|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
By: Rob Otto
Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, who once held the keys to Hollywood’s elite, is now facing a battle of a different kind—this time with bone marrow cancer behind bars at Rikers Island. According to NBC News, Weinstein has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, a rare form of cancer in which the bone marrow produces too many white blood cells. This condition, which typically manifests in middle-aged individuals, is slow-growing but can become acute if not treated swiftly. No further details about his prognosis have been released, but Weinstein’s legal representative and medical team remain tight-lipped.
Weinstein’s legal health care representative, Craig Rothfeld, blasted the media for speculating about Weinstein’s health, calling the public discourse “troubling and unacceptable.” Despite the rumors swirling around his condition, Rothfeld emphasized that Weinstein’s privacy is paramount. His longtime spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer, echoed this sentiment and declined to offer any additional information.
This latest cancer diagnosis is just one of the many health issues that Weinstein has faced since his arrest on rape and sexual assault charges six years ago.
In July, the former executive producer of iconic films like Pulp Fiction and Good Will Hunting was hospitalized with COVID-19 and double pneumonia. According to NBC News, Weinstein’s recovery was slow, taking place in the Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward, where he was treated for a slew of other ailments including diabetes, high blood pressure, spinal stenosis, and fluid buildup around his heart and lungs.
The dramatic fall of Harvey Weinstein is one of the most infamous in recent memory. Once hailed as the king of Hollywood, Weinstein’s career as a film producer began in 1981 with the release of The Burning, a horror film that gained cult status over the years. However, it was the founding of Miramax Films, alongside his brother Bob Weinstein, that cemented Harvey as a Hollywood powerhouse. Under their leadership, Miramax produced critically acclaimed films like The English Patient, Shakespeare in Love, and The Crying Game. These films not only earned massive box office success but also bagged numerous Academy Awards.
By the 1990s, Weinstein was riding high, his films dominating awards seasons and his name synonymous with cinematic excellence. Miramax became a symbol of independent filmmaking, and under Weinstein’s helm, the company launched the careers of numerous directors, actors, and writers. After selling Miramax to Disney in 1993, the Weinstein brothers created The Weinstein Company, furthering their influence in the industry with hits like Inglourious Basterds, The King’s Speech, and Silver Linings Playbook.
But Weinstein’s reign came to a screeching halt in 2017 when more than 80 women accused him of sexual misconduct, rape, and harassment, sparking the #MeToo movement. His crimes, which spanned decades, shocked the world as the dark underbelly of Hollywood’s elite culture was exposed. In February 2020, Weinstein was found guilty of first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape, landing him a 23-year prison sentence. Just this year, the NY Post reported that he was sentenced to an additional 16 years for a separate conviction in Los Angeles involving three sexual assault charges.
Despite his convictions, Weinstein continues to fight legal battles. The New York Court of Appeals overturned his 2020 conviction, but Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is seeking to retry the case. Meanwhile, Weinstein is appealing the 2022 conviction as well, trying to claw his way out of the 16-year sentence that has further buried his chances of ever seeing freedom again.
