Hayek says rebuffing Weinstein ended in nightmare on ‘Frida’

NEW YORK (AP) — In a single of essentially the most sparkling accounts yet of Harvey Weinstein’s alleged abuse and harassment, Salma Hayek says the disgraced movie rich particular person grew to alter into the making of her 2002 ardour venture, the Frida Kahlo biopic « Frida, » staunch into a nightmare after the actress refused Weinstein’s relentless advances.

« For years, he used to be my monster, » Hayek wrote in an op-ed published Wednesday by The Contemporary York Times.

Her refusals — of massages, showers and intercourse — infected him, she wrote. « I create not think he hated one thing larger than the observe ‘no,' » wrote Hayek.

Hayek, who on a well-liked basis starred in movies released by Weinstein’s Miramax within the 1990s, credited Weinstein with helping her start her occupation. Nonetheless she said that the movie rich particular person would flip up at her door « in any appreciate hours of the night, hotel after hotel, space after space. »

When Hayek introduced « Frida, » which she used to be producing, to Miramax to distribute, Weinstein made inferior demands as payback. Hayek said he insisted on rewrites, more financing and, most heinously to her, a intercourse scene with fleshy frontal nudity. He even threatened to assassinate her, she said.

In provide an explanation for to carry out what used to be a labor of esteem for Hayek, she agreed. Nonetheless she said she had a fearful breakdown while shooting the scene. « My body wouldn’t cease crying and convulsing, » wrote Hayek.

« It used to be not on story of I might perchance perchance be naked with another lady, » she wrote. « It used to be on story of I might perchance perchance be naked with her for Harvey Weinstein. »

Even aloof, Weinstein on the start refused to present the movie a theatrical open. He within the rupture relented after stress from director Julie Taymor and Hayek. It went on to unpleasant $fifty six.3 million worldwide and land six Oscar nominations, winning two.

In an announcement thru a spokesperson Wednesday, Weinstein denied Hayek’s depiction of their relationship and said the battles on « Frida » be pleased been « ingenious friction. »

« All of the sexual allegations as portrayed by Salma aren’t faithful and others who witnessed the events be pleased a assorted story of what transpired, » said the assertion.

« Mr. Weinstein would not buy pressuring Salma to realize a gratuitous intercourse scene with a feminine costar and he used to be not there for the filming, » be taught the assertion. « Nonetheless, that used to be section of the epic, as Frida Kahlo used to be bisexual and the more necessary intercourse scene within the movie used to be choreographed by Ms. Hayek with Geoffrey Mosey. »

Dozens of females be pleased accused Weinstein of sexual harassment, and a broad need of females be pleased said he raped them. Weinstein, who’s presently below investigation for sexual assault in Four cities, has denied all allegations of nonconsensual intercourse.

« Why attain so many folk, as feminine artists, be pleased to drag to battle to deliver our tales after we have so unprecedented to offer? Why will we have to strive against teeth and nail to defend our dignity? » concluded Hayek in her op-ed. « I own it’s some distance on story of we, as females, be pleased been devalued artistically to an coarse assert, to the level where the movie change stopped making an effort to uncover what feminine audiences wished to leer and what tales we wished to deliver. »

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This epic has been corrected to repair typo in Fifth paragraph to originate « threatened. »