#MeToo Founder Tarana Burke Says Overturned Harvey Weinstein Conviction Is “Not a Blow to the Movement”

Tatiana Tenreyro
·2 min read
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

On Thursday, #MeToo founder Tarana Burke voiced her disappointment at Harvey Weinstein’s conviction being overturned by the New York Court of Appeals at a press conference in New York City.

Burke said the #MeToo movement will continue the fight to make sure survivors of sexual abuse are protected. “When we have low moments, we get low and we get dirty and we do what we have to do. We get in the trenches and we do our work, and we will continue to do that,” she said, according to multiple outlets’ coverage of the press conference. “The outcome of this case doesn’t change that.”

More from The Hollywood Reporter

The activist also expressed that she was “devastated for the survivors who are connected to this case and the survivors who have found some solace and catharsis in the original verdict around Harvey Weinstein.”

However, in a video shared by The Guardian from the press conference, Burke was also optimistic about the significance of Weinstein’s court cases. “I want to be clear that this moment and this decision actually means that we have a movement,” she said.

Burke added, “Ten years ago, we could not get a man like Harvey Weinstein into a courtroom and you need to be clear about that.

“This is not a blow to the movement,” she reminded. “This is a clarion call and we are prepared to answer that call.”

In interviews later Thursday, Burke spoke about the difference between what Thursday’s decision means for the legal system and what it means for the movement.

“The judicial system has never been a friend of survivors. And so it’s the reason why we need movements, because movements have historically been what has pushed the legal system to do the right thing,” Burke told The Associated Press.

She added, noting that she spent the morning speaking to accusers including Annabella Sciorra who testified at Weinstein’s 2020 trial that he raped her: “I can understand how devastating and disgusted and angry, just the range of emotions that so many of them must feel. And I hope they understand for those of us survivors who will likely never see a day in court, that they are still heroes to us.”

In a 4-3 ruling, the New York Court of Appeals ruled that the judge in the New York County trial had reached a decision on the trial with improper rulings, as he allowed women to testify with allegations that were not specifically part of this case. The court has now decided that a new trial is to take place.

Weinstein will remain in prison, as he was also convicted of rape in Los Angeles in December 2022. He is expected to be transferred to a prison in California to serve this sentence.

Best of The Hollywood Reporter