The Weinstein Company board of directors expressed “utter surprise” at Tuesday’s allegations of rape and further sexual assault made against former CEO Harvey Weinstein.
Three allegations of rape, and more charges of sexual misconduct, were outlined in a lengthy investigative piece from The New Yorker. Only hours after publication, stars Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie came forward with tales of unwanted touching and advances made by Weinstein.
Co-founder Bob Weinstein, as well as board members Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar, later released a statement expressing shock and dismay at “the recently emerged allegations of extreme sexual misconduct and sexual assault.”
After calling the alleged behavior “antithetical to human decency,” the board declared that the allegations “come as an utter surprise to the Board. Any suggestion that the Board had knowledge of this conduct is false.”
The statement concluded with a resolution from the board to assist “in all criminal or other investigations of these alleged acts, while pursuing justice for the victims and a full and independent investigation of our own.”
TWC previously said it is conducting an internal review of the company following the outpouring of allegations, including those from former staffers.
Read the full statement:
The Weinstein Company’s Board of Representatives – Bob Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar – are shocked and dismayed by the recently emerged allegations of extreme sexual misconduct and sexual assault by Harvey Weinstein. These alleged actions are antithetical to human decency. These allegations come as an utter surprise to the Board. Any suggestion that the Board had knowledge of this conduct is false.
We are committed to assisting with our full energies in all criminal or other investigations of these alleged acts, while pursuing justice for the victims and a full and independent investigation of our own.