Rose McGowan Casts Doubt on Weinstein’s Prison Time
Rose McGowan questions whether Harvey Weinstein is truly behind bars, likening him to a street-level mafia boss and reflecting on Hollywood’s past reverence for the disgraced producer.
Rose McGowan, known for her work on screen and her activism, has openly questioned whether Harvey Weinstein is actually serving time in prison. The Italian-American performer, who was among the first to publicly accuse the film mogul of sexual assault, has long been a central figure in the MeToo movement, which encouraged women across the globe to share their experiences of misconduct in the entertainment industry.
Weinstein faced allegations from more than a hundred women. In 2020, he received a 23-year sentence in New York after being found guilty of rape and criminal sexual acts. However, that conviction was overturned in April 2024 due to issues with witness testimony, and a retrial is now in the works. Separately, in Los Angeles in 2022, he was convicted again for rape and other offences, resulting in a 16-year sentence.
McGowan’s Scepticism and Hollywood’s Blind Eye
Appearing on Paul Brunson’s We Need To Talk podcast, McGowan admitted she’s not convinced Weinstein has ever actually been locked up. When asked if she felt justice had been done, she replied,
“I would love to see a picture of him in prison. I suspect he’s been in a mansion in Connecticut. That’s my theory.”
She went on,
“I don’t know if he’s ever spent a day in prison. Hollywood, baby. I don’t know, maybe.”
McGowan described Weinstein as a thug, but not in the classic, suit-wearing mafia boss style. Instead, she likened him to someone operating on the street, far from the romanticised image of a film villain. She also reflected on the way the film industry once idolised him, saying,
“They calculated that he was thanked more times than God at the Oscars. Harvey Weinstein was their god. This was far worse than the cult I grew up in.”
Life After the Scandal
Following the emotional interview, McGowan shared her hopes of returning to acting. She admitted,
“The majority of my life than not I have had this warthog from hell on my back and buying off public’s perception of me.”
The impact of the scandal and its aftermath has clearly weighed heavily on her, both personally and professionally.
For those seeking support or information about sexual harassment, assault, or rape, there are organisations in the UK and US that can help.