A desperate email sent from producer Harvey Weinstein to multiple Hollywood CEOs begging them for support has surfaced. It was sent shortly before his own company fired him yesterday following the explosive report alleging decades of sexual harassment.
“My board is thinking of firing me,” it reads. “I could really use your support or just your honesty if you can’t support me.”
The letter, which was obtained by The Hollywood Reporter‘s Janice Min, begged to be able to take a leave of absence and get into counselling, rather than be outright fired.
“Whether it be in a facility or somewhere else, allow me to resurrect myself with a second chance. A lot of the allegation are false as you know but given therapy and counselling as other people have done, I think I’d be able to get there.”
He implored the recipients to send a letter to The Weinstein Company board, on the grounds of secrecy that it would never get out to anyone else.
“We believe what the board is trying to do is not only wrong but might be illegal and would destroy the company. If you could write this letter backing me, getting me the help and time away I need, and also stating your opposition to the board firing me, it would help me a lot. I am desperate for your help. Just give me the time to have therapy. Do not let me be fired. If the industry supports me, that is all I need.
“With all due respect, I need the letter today.”
Turns out, he was shit outta luck. Among the Hollywood heavyweights who refused to support Weinstein were Vice Chairman of NBC Universal Ronald Meyer, CEO of Discovery Communications (and previous NBC Universal exec) David Zaslav, and revered film producer Jeffrey Katzenberg, who served as chairman of Walt Disney Studios before departing to co-found DreamWorks Animation.
https://twitter.com/janicemin/status/917497716728504320
So sad. You can read Weinstein’s full letter below.
https://twitter.com/janicemin/status/917485536020905984
