Harvey Weinstein: Rose McGowan Takes Ben Affleck To Task & More Reactions

UPDATED with more comments, refresh for latest: Rose McGowan called out Ben Affleck for his response about the behavior of Miramax and The Weinstein Co. mogul Harvey Weinstein and called TWC ‘dirty.’ She also asked for men who knew to speak up and be heard. McGowan’s book Brave, which is already up for pre-order on Amazon, has a street date of Feb. 28th from Harper Collins and is likely to become an instant bestseller as we’ve heard she (characteristically) pulls no punches.

It took a day but Ben Affleck also finally came forward this AM, tweeting out his disgust at the behavior of the man who gave him his start in Hollywood with Good Will Hunting.

To which McGowan replied on Twitter:

More reactions are being tweeted out on social media this morning as the town reacts to yet another Weinstein exposé, this time from Ronan Farrow via The New Yorker, which includes women coming forward about being forced into oral sex and otherwise sexually assaulted.

Another longtime Weinstein collaborator, Wild Bunch co-founder Vincent Maraval, has provided Deadline with exclusive statements from before, and after, the New Yorker piece ran (see below).

That New Yorker story includes an audiotape of model Filipina-Italian model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez trying to rebuff his very aggressive advances and admitting to inappropriately groping her. The reactions range from everything from repugnance to jokes about being qualified now to run for president. Anthony Bourdain praises Asia Argento for putting aside her fear and speaking up about being forced into oral sex with the now disgraced Miramax/TWC mogul.

Prior to The New Yorker audio tape, Maraval said: “In 20 years of collaboration on many films, City Of God, Fahrenheit 9/11, The Artist or Wind River to quote a few, I never experienced, witnessed or heard direct testimonies from my employees, his employees or my film crews about inappropriate sexual behaviors. I heard many rumors, but our industry is full of that kind of stories. Now I trust more the legal system than the internet to bring the truth to the surface and if he is declared guilty, this is not only unforgivable, this is penal. I don’t want to shout with the social network court; I hate quick judgments without a proper instruction. He admitted inappropriate behaviors. If it is power abuse, this is bad. If this is blackmail, this is worse. If this is rape, this is beyond my capacity of forgiveness. But please let justice do its work. Considering the overall situation of the company, I used to work with Harvey because of his marketing genius. Without him in the company, this is an altogether different company. If he is proved guilty, the responsibility and the blame can’t stay on Harvey alone, but should be extended to the system that allowed it,” he said.

Contacted by Deadline after the New Yorker revelations, Maraval added: “Asia is a friend. I still think we should let justice act but, I believe her and I am deeply hurt.”

Also weighing in today:

Cate Blanchett, per Variety:

“Any man in a position of power or authority who thinks it’s his prerogative to threaten, intimidate or sexually assault any woman he encounters or works alongside needs to be called to account. It is never easy for a woman to come forward in such situations and I wholeheartedly support those who have.”

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, per the Los Angeles Times:

“There’s no place for this. There never was a place for it — sorry, Harvey. But it is something that we have to continue to make sure that people realize it happens all the time.”

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