Harvey Weinstein is speaking out from behind bars for the first time.
In a new The Hollywood Reporter profile published on Tuesday, March 10, journalist Maer Roshan, who has known Weinstein for some of his career, detailed the disgraced producer’s demeanor as he serves time in prison.
“When pressed, he concedes that his behavior may have been loutish, pathetic and even abusive,” Roshan wrote of Weinstein. “But he insists he’s no rapist — just an oversexed schmuck who made some stupid moves and accidentally launched a global social movement.”
Close to 100 women have come forward accusing Weinstein, 73, of sexual misconduct over the years, which launched the #MeToo movement. Weinstein was convicted of sexual assault in New York in 2020 and Los Angeles in 2022. While his NYC conviction was overturned on appeal in 2024, he remains incarcerated because of his conviction in California. (Weinstein has continued to maintain his innocence.)
Following a deadlocked jury in his first retrial in 2025, Weinstein is currently behind bars at Rikers Island. He is awaiting the second retrial, set for an April court date.
Weinstein alleged in The Hollywood Reporter’s profile that he’s spent “millions and millions and millions” on his defense.
When asked about his “fatal flaw,” Weinstein admitted that he “overstepped” his boundaries.
“I could be a horrible bully. I used power in an arrogant way. I was pushy and insistent, and I feel terrible,” he said. “I’m ashamed of that behavior, and I see it now in ways that I couldn’t before.”
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
Keep scrolling for details from Weinstein’s 1st prison interview:
He Doesn’t Speak to Other InmatesWeinstein explained that his interactions in prison are limited to “the guards and the nurses.” He noted that his celebrity status forced him into “isolation” while in Rikers.
“Other inmates get to go to the yard. But every time I’m out there, I feel like I’m under siege,” he claimed. “I’m constantly threatened and derided. I wouldn’t last long out there.”
When asking another inmate to use the phone, Weinstein was punched “hard in the face” — but he did not “rat” on the other person.
“I fell on the floor, bleeding everywhere. I was hurt really badly,” Weinstein said. “The cops asked me who had done it, but I couldn’t say.”
His Relationship With His KidsWeinstein is a father of five, but only three of his children speak to him. Weinstein shares Remy, Emma and Ruth with first wife Eve Chilton. He’s also the father of daughter India and son Dashiell with second wife Georgina Chapman.
“I speak to three of my children every single day: my oldest daughter, who is 30 now, and my 12-year-old and my 15-year-old,” he claimed. “My other two children haven’t talked to me for six years.”
He’s reached out to his two kids that don’t speak to him, but they “never respond” and haven’t since the allegations went public. He’s hopeful the relationships will repair.
Weinstein said his youngest kids “know everything” because of Google.
“I told them I never sexually assaulted anyone, and they believe me. Back when I was in Bellevue, it was easier to see them,” he wrote. “I won’t allow my daughter to come and see me here. My son-in-law takes my 12-year-old to visit sometimes. But it’s hard for him too. It’s emotionally crippling for him.”
Weinstein admitted it “scares the s*** out of me” to think about his life ending while he’s behind bars.
“It’s incredible to have the life that I had and the things that I did for society and not have the leniency to deal with me in a kinder way,” he said. “Whatever they think I did bad in my life, I didn’t get the death penalty.”
Weinstein said he “never” had suicidal thoughts. “It got really dark for me, but I’d never do that to my kids,” he said.
There’s ‘A Lot’ of Reasons People Are Lying About HimWeinstein claimed some of his accusers are lying because there’s “money involved.”
“One woman got half a million dollars. Another got paid $500,000. A third got $3 million. All anyone had to do to walk off with a check was fill out a form that said I sexually assaulted them,” he stated. “People can say anything they want about me, and it’s in the public record. But very few of these stories have been litigated in court.”
The disgraced producer did admit to “unsuccessfully” making a pass at some of his accusers but doubled down on denying sexual assault. Weinstein claimed the only thing he was “doing wrong” was cheating on his wife.
“I was married to a fantastic woman who had no idea what I was doing. I lied all the time. I improperly used my staff to hide these things,” he alleged. “But did I ever sexually assault a woman? No. I never did that.”
Weinstein acknowledged the “power imbalance” between him and his accusers.
“I know I can be scary and difficult. But that’s still a long way from sexual assault. Over-flirtation, ridiculous situations,” he alleged. “Bad and stupid behavior. Yes. But I didn’t push anybody. I didn’t physically move anybody.”
Weinstein made it clear that he’s “not deranged” and claimed he never went as far as “blackballing” anyone who turned him down.
Weinstein apologized to his accusers.
“I apologized to them generally. You can’t call them when you’re in a trial with them,” he said. “But I’ll say it here today: I apologize to those women. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been with them in the first place. I misled them.”
Weinstein continued, “I misled them. I cheated on both my wives. That’s immoral. But I did not assault them. That is the big lie of all of this. I won’t apologize for something I didn’t do. I will be proven innocent. That I promise you.”
