BLIND GOSSIP

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The One Word

SOLVED!

UPDATED!

[Blind Gossip] At a Golden Globes party, there was an interesting discussion that took place among a few Hollywood executives.

It wasn’t about nominations or fashion or speeches. It was about one of their own.

According to a key executive, there is one word that is heavily influencing the defense of this Hollywood movie bigwig.

They were saying that almost every victim used the same word to describe [Bigwig] and his crimes, and his attorneys know they have to blunt the connection the jury makes between that one word and [Bigwig].

Can you guess what that word is?

It’s “power”!

Industry power. And physical power.

He is always described as a “power player.” Almost all the victims say that he held the “power” in their relationship, that he is one of the most “powerful” people in Hollywood, that his body size is “big and powerful”, and that he physically “overpowered” them.

His team is betting that the other side will use that word over and over, beginning with their opening statement.

So, what is his team’s strategy?

They decided they couldn’t diminish his career or his influence in any credible way, but they could make him look physically weaker.

That’s why the suddenly thinner and frail appearance. They hope that the jury looks at him and doesn’t think of him as being physically big and powerful or able to overpower anyone.

Sneaky.

Guess we’ll see soon enough if that part of their strategy is effective!

Similar: Racist Straw

Bigwig:

[Optional] Effective strategy? What do you think the legal outcome will be?

SOLVED!

Bigwig: Harvey Weinstein

Producer Harvey Weinstein’s defense team knew that the prosecution would try to portray Harvey Weinstein as a power player and a physically powerful man who could assault women.

Therefore, they had to do everything they could to make their client look and sound like the kind of person who couldn’t overpower anyone.

The Harvey Weinstein trial began today with opening statements from both sides.

Just as your friends at Blind Gossip told you, the language that the prosecution used (tycoon, orders, power, forcibly, powerful, titan) – as well as the prosecution’s warning to the jury about not being deceived by Weinstein’s current, frail appearance  – was all about POWER!

From CNN:

Harvey Weinstein is ‘not a harmless old man,’ prosecutors say in opening statements

Prosecutors detailed years of alleged sexual abuse by Harvey Weinstein and said he “is not a harmless old man” during opening statements at his sexual assault and rape trial on Wednesday morning.

“At the end of this trial, the evidence will be clear that the man seated right there is not just a tycoon in Hollywood, he was a rapist, sexually assaulting these women when they refused to comply with his desires and his orders,” said Assistant District Attorney Meghan Hast.

…He offered her advice for getting ahead in her acting career and claimed he had a leading role for her in a movie, but those were false promises, Hast said.
Instead, he used that power to sexually assault her, and he twice forcibly raped her, Hast said. Mann saw a needle for an erection stimulant in the trash after two of the incidents, Hast said.

NBC focused on the remarks made by the prosecuation about Weinstein’s alleged assault on actress Annabelle Sciorra ( The Hand The Rocks The Cradle, The Sopranos).

Again, note the language used (bigger, power, connections, power imbalance, power broker).

Harvey Weinstein trial: Prosecutor describes graphic allegations in opening statement

In the late 1990s, Hast said, Sciorra and Weinstein were placed in neighboring rooms at a hotel in France during the Cannes Film Festival after she co-starred in a movie distributed by his former company, Miramax. Sciorra, the prosecutor said, “found him in his underwear with baby oil and a movie tape.”

“It took 25 years until she could relive the nightmare and tell her story,” Hast said of Sciorra, whose allegations were ruled too old to support criminal charges. “Harvey Weinstein remained a bigger figure in Hollywood, with power and connections to silence Annabella.”

Weinstein, Hast said, “exploited” a power imbalance between himself and his alleged victims. The women, she said, were “no match for the power broker in Hollywood [that] Harvey Weinstein had become” by the mid-1990s, and during the trial each will “describe their fear, their shame and their humiliation.”

In his underwear with baby oil and a movie tape? Pig.

Finally, USA Today quotes the prosecution’s vivid description of Weinstein’s size as compared to his victims.

“At the end of this trial, the evidence will be clear, that the man seated right there was not just a titan in Hollywood, but a rapist,” Hast said. “(He used) his power and prestige in the entertainment industry to ensure (accusers’) silence.

Of [one of his victims] Haleyi, Hast said: “The 110-pound Miriam was no match for the 300-pound Weinstein. … He pushed her onto the bed, put his weight on top of her, and held her down.”

Meanwhile, the defense team is doing everything they can to make Harvey Weinstein look anything but powerful.

What does Weinstein usually look like? Weinstein is normally a huge, robust, powerful man. Ben Affleck is 6’4″ and 175 pounds. Weinstein is a couple of inches shorter and a hundred pounds heavier.

And here is Weinstein with Gwyneth Paltrow. Nothing slim or frail about him here.

Then he was accused of sexual assault by multiple women.

Facing his first trial, Weinstein sudddenly went from a tall, fat, robust, powerful man… to a slimmer elderly citizen, hunched over a walker to support his frail frame.

You buying this?

Oddly enough, Harvey Weinstein was spotted in a Target store four weeks ago without his walker and walking without any assistance whatsoever.

Huh.

It reminds us of the Bill Cosby trial, where, all of a sudden, Cosby went from a healthy predator who was accused of drugging and raping dozens of women… to a feeble blind man who needed to be assisted everywhere he went.

Bill Cosby is now in prison for three to ten years.

Let’s see where poor, frail Harvey Weinstein ends up.

Jojo5282 was first with the correct answer!

UPDATE!

The verdict is in!

GUILTY!

From CNN:

Harvey Weinstein faces at least 5 years in prison after jurors convict him of a criminal sex act and rape

Harvey Weinstein was found guilty Monday of committing a criminal sex act in the first degree involving one woman and rape in the third degree involving another woman.

Just so you know, there were a lot of different charges. The

jury did not find Weinstein guilty in the assault of actress Annabella Sciorra. The prosecutors knew her testimony was likely too “old” to get a prosecution for that crime, but they used that testimony to establish Weinstein’s pattern of predatory behavior. Thus, her testimony did have considerable value.

Well done, Annabella!

The disgraced movie mogul faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of more than two decades in prison. He was handcuffed and taken into custody after the New York jury’s verdict.

Harvey Weinstein was taken to Rikers Island, an island in the East River between Queens and the Bronx that is home to New York City’s main jail complex.

Rikers – which is closing in 2026 – is notorious for being brutal and corrupt and violent.

In other words, it is similar to Harvey Weinstein himself.

Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. credited eight women who spoke out against Weinstein during the trial.

“Dawn Dunning, Miriam Haley, Jessica Mann, Annabella Sciorra, Tarale Wulff, Lauren Young. Meghan Hast, Joan Illuzzi. These are the eight women who changed the course of history in the fight against sexual violence,” Vance said after the verdict.  

Strong women, every one of them!

“Rape is rape … whether it’s committed by an indigent person or a man of immense power, prestige, and privilege.”

Weinstein’s lawyers said they will appeal the jury’s finding.

He’s not so powerful anymore!

Of course they will appeal. As a matter of fact, Harvey lamented after they read the verdict, “I’m innocent, I’m innocent, I’m innocent. How could this happen in America?”

Oh, please.

When the verdict was read, jurors did not appear to look at Weinstein and may have been avoiding making eye contact with anyone.

But he’s so pretty to look at!

It’s not clear exactly how many years in prison Weinstein faces. Sentencing is scheduled for March 11.

For the charge of criminal sex act in the first degree, he faces a minimum of five years and a maximum of 25 years in prison.

For the charge of rape in the third degree, he essentially faces no minimum prison time and a maximum of four years.
…

But Weinstein’s criminal cases aren’t over. He also faces charges of sexual assault and rape in separate incidents in Los Angeles.

You can read the entire article here.

So, as a result of this first set of verdicts, Harvey Weinstein now faces up to 25 years in prison.

More to come.

It couldn’t happen to a nicer guy. Rot in Rikers, Harvey!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. mzlizzi says

    Sciorra, the prosecutor said, “found him in his underwear with baby oil and a movie tape.”

    Is that it? She had no power to turn around and walk out?

  3. WhoDatGirl says

    Lol this is Harvey Weinstein. I about spit my coffee out on my monitor at work when I saw the picture of him going to court with a freaking walker.

    Looks like the producer has decided to take up acting lol

  5. guyfromrio says

    No jury is ever gonna look at that sleaze fat weistein and have any compassion towards him. I hope he gets as much time in jail as possible.

    The sad thing is that the enabling system of hollywood will go on alive and thriving.

  6. millergal says

    Harvey Weinstein
    I hope their strategy is ineffective. He is an abusive, egotistical asshole.

  7. gc02ef says

    Weinstein
    i don’t think anyone buys it. The weak with a walker act is so ridic!
    I hope he goes to prison for years.

  8. wonderstrucker009 says

    As a person who has CP AND USES A WHEELCHAIR, it’s CUTE. LOL. STAY IN YOUR LANE, Harvey Weinstein.

  10. Jumerandy says

    Harvey Weinstein. The classic, frail looking appearance and using a walker is a time honored phony tradition used by pedophiles and sex offenders in courtrooms. Nothing to see here, Move along

  16. deepsigh says

    Harvey Weinstein. They’ve deliberately given him a walker that is too short so that he has to hunch over to use it. The tennis balls covering the walker’s feet make it extra pathetic. I’m surprised they haven’t put a hanging pouch on the front bar for a box of tissues and reading glasses.
    The Junior Soprano Defense. Too Old and Frail to Jail.

    NO. It sucks as a defense and I think he’s going to prison.

  17. GreeleyMan says

    Obviously Harvey Weinstein, who showed up to court using a walker. Don’t think it will work.

  18. bec215d says

    Weinstein, who’s been doing interviews with his walker (which he doesn’t use very convincingly, btw), and even one from the hospital. Cosby’s team did the same, with his supposed blindness … which doesn’t seem to be an issue anymore now that he’s actually in prison. Amazing how he recovered… I’m sure Harvey will, too.

  20. Jayzzzzzz says

    Harvey Weinstein
    Explains the walker, loss of weight, looking shriveled & weak, etc.
    No, I don’t think it will work. I don’t know what the legal outcome will be – I’m hoping he goes to jail & has to pay women a lot of money, but I’m not holding my breath.

  21. MinnieMe says

    Harvey Weinstein and his “walker”. They got him the really cheap version that you put tennis balls on the bottom. But he can really hop down the stairs alternating feet.
    He’s gonna fry.

  23. lealeablue2 says

    Harvey Weinstein and his recently added slimmer frame to look all frail and old. You’re fooling no-one.

  25. christined says

    Harvey Weinstein

    I think the walking frame is a bit over the top, but maybe the jury could actually fall for this *. Not sure if this strategy is effective, but it’s not like they have an alternative.

  26. rebeccadewinter says

    Weinstein – the diet, the stoop the diminishing of him.

    Look at any picture of him when he was committing these offences and you will see the old power stance.

    He will go to prison.

  27. yenta75 says

    Harvey Weinstein with his walker and hunched-over gait. I think everyone can see through the façade, and hopefully he’ll be found guilty on all charges.

  28. aaajrm68 says

    Harvey Weinstein, he just had surgery for his hip and is using a walker to move around. His team also holds him up by both his arms so he seems frail and older and not as “powerful”

  30. Max Power says

    Harvey Weinstein.
    A jury might buy it if they had no idea who he was but the prosecution will emphasise his power including his physical size at the time of offending so I can’t see it working. They are absolutely grasping at straws to give this tactic a try

    • itstarapagain says

      The scary thing is it only takes 1 who buys it. And reading about the lead attorney she gets perpetrators of sexual violence acquitted through a variety of methods from victim blaming, to turning the criminal into the victim, to hard to follow logic that confuses juries who are afraid to say they don’t understand what she’s saying. You know- the thing that keeps rapists in business.

  35. kazzuri says

    Harvery. Those very expensive lawyers can’t be too smart if they think people will fall for this. It couldn’t be more obvious what their ploy is. Plus it’s been done to death.

  37. ILUVCA4evr says

    Bigwig: Harvey Weinstein

    [Optional] Effective strategy? Possibly.

    What do you think the legal outcome will be? Time served. Professionally? It’ll take longer, but he’s got $$ stashed somewhere.

  39. parkland45 says

    Weinstein using the walker after his back surgery. Uh-hunh. Nice touch. It won’t be effective. He’s going to prison.

  41. peanutbuttersolution says

    Harvey Weinstein.

    He will “commit suicide” so he won’t testify about his buddy Clinton.

  42. nadezhda says

    harvey pig weinstein.
    i hope he goes to jail n get raped multiple times no matter how much he offered money to the other inmates. i hope he gets so broken up that he can’t make any comeback after he leaves jail.

  44. redacro says

    Weinstein
    I don’t know what the outcome will be. Yes he is a predator but a lot of people think the women made their choices for their careers. So I guess we wait for the jury.

  46. spookie says

    Harvey Weinstein and his prop walking frame.

    Optional: Anyone with any knowledge of who he is will know it’s all an act. If none of this had gone down he’d have strolled down the red carpet last night 50 pound heavier and with no assistance at all.

  47. Canadianna says

    Harvey Weinstein.
    His lawyers seem to taking a page out of Bill Cosby’s defense strategy book.
    I think (ie. really hope) that he will be found guilty!

  49. rayodeplata says

    Harvey Weinstein looking like a poor old man. My country’s former dictator used the same strategy to avoid prosecution and sadly it worked for him. Hopefully this bastard won’t.

  56. Annaliese says

    Oh good GAWD. When I first saw Harvey Weinstein walk into court on a walker, I busted a gut! How much is he paying these high (powered) lawyers anyway, pun intended? There is absolutely nothing tactical about this type of defense. Do they not think any one with an IQ over 75 could figure out he is pretending? Wonders never cease!

  63. michelex23 says

    Harvey Weinstein. Saw the photos of him in a walker and rolled my eyes hard. He might’ve been into the movies but he has certainly no actor.

  67. gailpow says

    Bigwig is the detestable Harvey Weinstein and this sneaky ploy might just garner him some sympathy points.

  70. Sleepyandconfused says

    Obviously Weinstein
    I saw him looking thinner and using the walker. Such an obviously cheap move

  72. HotTeacher88 says

    Harvey Weinstein. Can’t imagine him thin or frail. His goose needs to get cooked if Bill Cosby’s did.

  76. Zafona says

    Weinstein.
    [Optional] Effective strategy? What do you think the legal outcome will be?
    Idk but he’s rich and knows a lot of Hollywod secrets, so he might get away with it all, like Specey.

  80. MrsWCleaver says

    Wily old Harvey Weinstein. He’s so screwed, he shouldn’t even bother. He’s going away for a long time. Maybe life, since he’s an older guy.

  81. kittymyers says

    that slimey Weinstein

    I’m hoping the jurors will remember what a BIG FAT SLOB he was when he committed his crimes and not fall for this obvious ploy.

  82. cashatho7890 says

    hARVEY wEINSTEIN!
    He HAS looked like he’s been losing weight! I thought it was stress though

  85. Marybel says

    Weinstein and his prop walker. His head still looks big and fat…he’s just hunched over.

  88. gumbii2662 says

    Weinstein. I literally JUST saw a news story this morning with him, and he was using a walker and he was clearly trying to look frail and old and weak. He is hamming it up for the cameras, but when these accusations first came out anyone could see he was not sickly or frail at all. Dude is scummier than Cosby.

  92. rmcgow says

    Harvey Weinstein. News articles released today showed photos of him using a walker. NICE TRY. #lockhimup4life

  94. I Am PunkA says

    Weinstein. Noticed he is waking all weird now too like he’s got physical issues. All part of an act no doubt.

  96. BettyBoopaDoop says

    Weinstein.

    Absolutely not. How dumb do they think people are? Send this rapist to jail already.

  97. hannahhkate says

    To think that giving Harvey Weinstein a walker will make him appear weaker and somehow sympathetic is an insult to everyone’s intelligence.

    • 4sixx2 says

      I’m so tired of these pathetic, idiotic “men” who are suddenly decrepit & feeble when they go on trial. Cosby & Weinstein can’t walk on their own & go blind. You don’t see women doing that. Leona Helmsley and Martha Stuart walked in with their heads held high every day.

  101. OoLaLana says

    Harvey Weinstein.

    Reminds me when Bill Cosby had someone ‘guide’ him into court because of failing eyesight. Right.

  104. boyzmom says

    Weinstein. I noticed how sickly he (seemingly) looked on the news. I hope it’s not effective, but who knows. I’m hoping the jury convicts him, but again, you never know how the jury will vote behind closed doors.

  105. NormaDesperate says

    Harvey Weinstein, obviously, but I don’t think it’ll work – all photos of him during his most powerful/predatory years clearly show him as a HUGE guy whose girth alone could overtake even the most fit woman.

  106. ChattyCat says

    Harvey W.
    I guessed correctly….his victims always use the word power in reference to him.

    A physically leaner appearance isn’t going to sway the jury. They’re not stupid. They know he was larger than the women he treated as puppets – and they know the difference between physical power and power in the context of professional influence. There’s so many victims speaking up he Harvey doesn’t have a leg to stand on.

  111. Gerseychick says

    Weinstein had big lawyers and big publicists on his payroll…When Ronan Farrow wanted to do his story on the Today Show it was dumped…Weinstein was told all about it before the public knew…The same show that did nothing to Matt Lauer’s disgusting behavior for years…..All these ladies who were sexually abused by this Creep should get justice…..I hope he goes to jail for the rest of his sorry life…..

  112. The Big D says

    Harvey Weinstein
    It won’t help-it didn’t work with Bill Cosby and it won’t work with Weinstein.

  113. SeijnSei says

    Bigwig: Weinstein

    [Optional] Effective strategy? What do you think the legal outcome will be? No. The jury will clearly see that for what it is. Some older video footage will clear that up. He will write a gigantic check before he goes to jail.

  114. amagod121 says

    Harvey Weinstein.

    Might possibly be effective with certain male jurors but I doubt females will fall for it. We have all seen him at the size he was at when he was working with these women. Huge, like a fat, grizzled, repulsive boar.

    Who cares if he is playing at being puny now?? Furthermore, I think he will be found guilty and jailed, just like Epstein. Bye bye, Harvey!

  121. LizardQueen says

    Harvey Weinstein

    It’s a good strategy, but not sure if it’ll work considering that by now most people have seen photos of, and documentaries on him. But I guess we’ll see.

  122. Amanda2413 says

    Weinstein and his damned walker. The first time I saw a photo, I thought he looked like a client of an ambulance chaser. So obvious.

    Legal outcome: I don’t think justice will be served

  124. jojo5282 says

    Weinstein. He’s a sick person who took advantage of a lot of women. Any jury will see that… no matter how much weight he lost.