“Look at my client,” attorney Mark Werksman said to the jury. “He’s not Brad Pitt or George Clooney. Do you think these beautiful women had sex with him because he’s hot? No, it’s because he’s powerful.”
Werksman admitted that Hollywood is different now, but at the time the alleged incidents occurred, “transactional sex” was used and accepted in the industry. “Sex was a commodity” for “rich and powerful men, like my client,” he continued, referencing the infamous “casting couch” where the sexual acts took place.
“Transactional sex … it may have been unpleasant … and now embarrassing,” Werksman continued. “[But] everyone did it. He did it. They did it.”
“The sequel to the casting couch is the #MeToo trial,” the attorney said. “They will play the part of the damsel in distress with this beast. They have to lie to themselves, to you, to this court.”
“Their hypocrisy will be on full display,” he added.
Meanwhile, the prosecution had earlier described Weinstein as a predator who sexually assaulted women against their will. The prosecution’s opening statement included quotes from women who claim the producer forced them to participate in oral sex plus groped, fondled, and raped them, then threatened retaliation if they spoke up.
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Werksman admitted that Hollywood is different now, but at the time the alleged incidents occurred, “transactional sex” was used and accepted in the industry. “Sex was a commodity” for “rich and powerful men, like my client,” he continued, referencing the infamous “casting couch” where the sexual acts took place.
“Transactional sex … it may have been unpleasant … and now embarrassing,” Werksman continued. “[But] everyone did it. He did it. They did it.”
“The sequel to the casting couch is the #MeToo trial,” the attorney said. “They will play the part of the damsel in distress with this beast. They have to lie to themselves, to you, to this court.”
“Their hypocrisy will be on full display,” he added.
Meanwhile, the prosecution had earlier described Weinstein as a predator who sexually assaulted women against their will. The prosecution’s opening statement included quotes from women who claim the producer forced them to participate in oral sex plus groped, fondled, and raped them, then threatened retaliation if they spoke up.
‘Everyone Did It’: Harvey Weinstein’s Lawyers Says ‘Transactional Sex’ With Powerful Men Was Common Before MeToo Movement
Harvey Weinstein’s defense lawyers told the jury that their client behaved in a manner that was accepted at the time before the MeToo movement changed everything. Weinstein’s second sexual assault trial began this week in Los Angeles, with eight women ready to testify against the former...
