What would you have advised Lisa Bloom regarding continuing to work for Weinstein? David Boies? Sitrick & Company?

Chapter 1 Defining Public Relations 19 20 PART 1 Evolution coming forward cannot be tolerated. Their courage and support of others is critical in helping to stop this kind of behavior For his own part, Harvey Weinstein, rather than admitting to the abusive behavior his accusers had charged, instead offered a rather muted response, 'lappreciate the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and sincerely apologize for it. Though I'm trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go." he told the Times, adding that he planned to enter rehab for sexual addiction. Adding insult to injury, he also characterized many of the accusations as 'off base and said he had parted on good terms with the women now making charges against him. His spokesperson, lawyer Lisa Bloom, added that Weinstein denies many of the accusations as patently false." Figure 1-5) Lowering the Boom on Weinstein's Web of Enablers What was particularly appalling about the Weinstein harassment allegations were the many people around him who knew what was going on but kept quiet about Weinstein's lurid behavior. Indeed, A Secret Life Exposed The wall--and his world-came crumbling down for Harvey Wein- stein on October 5, 2017, with a front page headline in The New York Times, "Harvey Weinstein Paid Off Sexual Harassment Acous- ers for Decades The scrupulously researched story, which ran for three pages in the Times, quoted confidential memos and first-hand accounts from several women, including actress Ashley Judd, who chroni- cled a history of unwanted sexual advances, invitations for show- ers and massages in hotel rooms, a naked Weinstein incessantly pleading for sexual favors, and assorted acts of lewdness and depravity inappropriate to be mentioned in a family textbook. Most of the women involved were assistants, actresses, and aspiring hopefuls, all cognizant-and terrified-of the movie maker's power to make or break their careers. And lots of people apparently knew all about Weinstein's predilections and looked the other way. As Ms. Judd, who was comered by a bathrobe-clad Weinstein in a Beverly Hills hotel room for what the young actress thought would be a breakfast meeting, put it, "Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time, and it's simply beyond time to have the conversation publicly." The Times expose was quickly followed by an even longer and more damaging article in the New Yorker magazine, written by NBC journalist Roman Farrow, who over 10 months interviewed 13 women who claimed Weinstein either sexually harassed or assaulted them between the 1990s and 2015. Ironically, Farrow, the son of actress Mia Farrow, took his Weinstein piece to the New Yorker after his own network wouldn't run it. While critics sus- pected that NBC was reluctant to antagonize powerful Hollywood contacts, network executives claimed they passed on Farrow's story because it lacked all the elements we needed to air it." No matter. The Farrow blockbuster article caused an immediate and unforgiving outpouring against Harvey Weinstein Actress Angelina Jolie said, "I had a bad experience with Harvey Weinstein in my youth and as a result, chose never to work with him again and warn others when they did. This behavior towards women in any field, any country is unacceptable." Meryl Streep, who once referred to Weinstein as "God." said. "The disgraceful news about Harvey Weinstein has appalled those of us whose work he championed, and those whose good and worthy causes he supported. The intrepid women who raised their voices to expose this abuse are our heroes." George Clooney, who was given his first break as a film actor by Weinstein, said, "It's indefensible. That's the only word you can start with." Academy Award-winning actress Kate Winslet said, The fact that these women are starting to speak out about the gross misconduct of one of our most important and well regarded film producers, is incredibly brave and has been deeply shocking to hear. The way Harvey Weinstein has treated these vulnerable, talented young women is NOT the way women should ever EVER deem to be acceptable or commonplace in ANY workplace." And Weinstein friend Hillary Clinton, said in a statement, "I was shocked and appalled by the revelations about Harvey Weinstein. The behavior described by women the list of Weinstein enablers included, not only agents and manag- Boies was promptly fired by another dient, The New York Times, ers who knowingly arranged meetings for their female clients with and lost other business the notorious impresario, but also lawyers, journalists, and public The reputation of another Weinstein attorney, spokesperson relations people. Bloom, also took a pounding. The daughter of celebrity women's Weinstein employed the Hollywood attorneys who, in return for right attorney Gloria Allred and herself an erstwhile defender against a victim's silence signed into an ironclad legal agreement, would sexual harassment, Bloom was excoriated when she went to bat for reportedly offer $80,000 to $150,000 in return as hush money. the alleged serial sexual harasser, especially after it was revealed The money was supplied by The Weinstein Company, whose that Weinstein had agreed to make a movie of a book she had writ- Co-head was Harvey's brother Bob. One famous lawyer whose ten. In the wake of the torrent of criticism she received from many reputation suffered from the Weinstein revelations was David Boies, women (including her mother!), Ms. Bloom quietly resigned from the heretofore pristine jurist involved in some of the most impor the Weinstein team. tant legal cases in recent history, representing the U.S. Justice The Weinstein sexual harassment publicity also outed friendly Department against Microsoft, Vice President Al Gore against journalists who had served as Weinstein enablers. New York President George W. Bush, and New York Yankees' owner George Daily News columnist A. J. Benza allegedly received payments in Steinbrenner against Major League Baseball. In 1997, Steinbrenner exchange for stories that helped deflect attention away from alleged sued 29 teams and Major League Baseball's executive council. Weinstein misdeeds. Weinstein allies at American Media, publisher Boles represented him. When it was revealed that Boles, working of the supermarket tabloid National Enquirer, were also enlisted to behind the scenes for Weinstein, contacted investigators to get uncover dirt on Weinstein accusers. dirt on his client's accusers and the journalists working on stories, In terms of public relations, as soon as the negative sto- ries were published, both ketchum Public Relations and PMK- BNC, two firms who represented The Weinstein Company in ULIGE film publicity, quit immediately. But others, including Bloom and Lanny Davis, a lawyer who had previously defended President Bill Clinton against charges of sexual improprieties in the White House, signed on as Weinstein public relations counselors. Davis joined Bloom on the way out the door when the heat on their cli- ent intensified Finally, it was left to famed Hollywood crisis manager Michael Sitrick (see From the Top, Chapter 17) and his Sitrick & Company to speak on behalf of Weinstein as his public relations spokesman. The affiliation lasted just a few months. In April 2018, Sitrick quietly resigned the Weinstein account, leaving the disgraced mogul to fend for himself. (Figure 1-6) DEPARTMENT The Weinstein Aftermath: A Social Crusade Is Born By early 2018, Harvey Weinstein's problems were mounting, as police in New York and Los Angeles reportedly investigated the possibility of charging Weinstein with crimes, including rape. Meanwhile, The Weinstein Company, which fired its co-founder as trouble mounted, had no choice but to sell the embattled company in a deal that reportedly cost its shareholders most of their equity investment. The one positive development coming out of the Harvey Weinstein saga was the immediate impact it had on women and men-coming forward publicly to expose other sexual abusers. Actress Alyssa Milano started a #MeToo hashtag to denounce sexual abuse and harassment, and the crusade spread around the world. Within months, famous broadcasters, like Today Show host Matt Lauer and PBS interviewer Charley Rose, politicians, like Minnesota Senator Al Franken and Michigan Congressman John Conyers, and artists, like painter Chuck Close and opera conduc- tor James Levine, and more than 100 other famous people were publicly accused as being sexual harassers. After decades of Silence, millions of people were now speaking out against sexual abuse in the workplace and elsewhere. Milano told a TV interviewer, We are going to be vocal until this stops. Not A FIGURE 1-5 Go away. Star maker Harvey Weinstein wanted no part of the tidal wave of publicity that exposed him as a serial sexual harasser Photor de picture alliance/Alamy Stock Photo A FIGURE 1-6 Going away? Harvey Weinstein leaves Lower Manhattan police station in 2018, after being charged with felony rape and com- mitting a criminal sex act. Photo: Kristin Calaharv ACE Pictures New com