Rose McGowan, Mira Sorvino and accusers react to Weinstein verdict: ‘Truth to power’ led to a ‘cultural reset’
In the aftermath of Harvey Weinstein being found guilty of committing a criminal sex act in the first degree involving one woman and rape in the third degree involving another woman, many who had accused the disgraced movie mogul of sexual harassment and sexual assault issued their statements on the matter.
While Weinstein was convicted and now faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of more than two decades in prison, the jury acquitted Weinstein on the more serious charges of predatory sexual assault involving the two women, Miriam Haley and Jessica Mann.
Annabella Sciorra, whose account of being raped by Harvey Weinstein did not result in convictions at the disgraced film mogul’s trial in New York, too issued a statement.
She wrote: “My testimony was painful but necessary. I spoke for myself and with the strength of the 80-plus victims of Harvey Weinstein in my heart.”
She further wrote, “While we hope for continued righteous outcomes that bring absolute justice, we can never regret breaking the silence. For in speaking truth to power we pave the way for a more just culture, free of the scourge of violence against women.”
Mira Sorvino, who had accused Weinstein of sexually harassing and blacklisting her, wrote on Twitter: “The beginning of #justice. More to come, my sisters. #weinsteinguilty.”
Sorvino, Rose McGowan and other accusers of Weinstein, in a phone press conference -- the group is known as the Silence Breakers -- thanked the “brave women who bared their deepest hurt for the world to see”. McGowan further said, “For once, he won’t be sitting comfortably. For once, he will know what it is like to have power wrapped around his neck.”
She added, “Today is not a referendum on MeToo. This is taking out the trash. But what I wanted to do was cause a massive cultural reset. We achieved that today with what happened. With today, the trashman came and he said to all of the little girls and the little boys who get hurt in this world, ‘Someday, maybe you, too, can have a voice.'”
Sorvino, in the conference call, said that Weinstein had harmed many, “even in our nightmares, long after he initially did what he did to each one of us,” adding that “We have finally taken that power back. And we have exposed his evil and others like him, the true ugliness. He will rot in jail as he deserves and we will begin to have some closure.”
In addition to the call, the group also issued a joint statement that reads, “While it is disappointing that today’s outcome does not deliver the true, full justice that so many women deserve, Harvey Weinstein will now forever be known as a convicted serial predator. This conviction would not be possible without the testimony of the courageous women and the many women who have spoken out.”
It further said, “This has been a flawed process from the beginning but has further exposed the difficulties women face in coming forward to tell the truth about powerful abusers. Their bravery will forever be remembered in history. Our fight is far from over.”
Rosanna Arquette, who accused Weinstein of derailing her career after she rejected him, wrote about the verdict on Twitter: “Gratitude to the brave women who’ve testified and to the jury for seeing through the dirty tactics of the defense. [W]e will change the laws in the future so that rape victims are heard and not discredited and so that it’s easier for people to report their rapes.”