Obamas 'disgusted' by Weinstein revelations

Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle on Tuesday said they were 'disgusted' by the growing allegations of sexual misconduct by Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, a longtime Democratic Party donor.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama, arrive for an event to thank service members and their families at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, Sunday, Dec. 25, 2016.

President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama on December, 25, 2016. Source: AAP

"Michelle and I have been disgusted by the recent reports about Harvey Weinstein. Any man who demeans and degrades women in such fashion needs to be condemned and held accountable, regardless of wealth or status," they said in a statement.

"We should celebrate the courage of women who have come forward to tell these painful stories. And we all need to build a culture -- including by empowering our girls and teaching our boys decency and respect -- so we can make such behavior less prevalent in the future.
Italian film star Asia Argento and two other women claim that disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein raped them, in a bombshell New Yorker expose published on Tuesday.

The women's allegations against the 65-year-old movie mogul, according to the magazine, include unwanted oral sex and forced oral and full sex.

Weinstein denies all charges, according to a statement from his spokeswoman Sallie Hofmeister, circulated among US media.
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The accusations will be seen as a hugely damaging escalation of the scandal engulfing the Oscar-winning producer, as the numerous allegations which led to his weekend sacking from The Weinstein Company had so far been limited to complaints about harassment. 

New Yorker writer Ronan Farrow spent 10 months interviewing 13 women who reported they were harassed or assaulted by Weinstein.

The investigation was published as fresh misconduct allegations emerged from Hollywood A-listers such as Angelina Jolie, Rosanna Arquette and Gwyneth Paltrow.


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Published 11 October 2017 10:56am
Updated 11 October 2017 11:13am
Source: AFP, SBS


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