Kate Winslet refused to thank Harvey Weinstein in her 2009 Oscar acceptance speech — even though he claimed credit for the win.
The 42-year-old told the LA Times on Saturday that she was instructed to praise the disgraced producer after picking up the Best Actress Academy Award for The Reader; but deliberately omitted his name while thanking 19 other people who had helped her get there.
‘That was deliberate. That was absolutely deliberate,’ she said.
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‘He was bullying and nasty’: Kate Winslet refused to thank Harvey Weinstein in her 2009 Oscar acceptance speech — even though he claimed credit for the win
‘I remember being told. “Make sure you thank Harvey if you win.” And I remember turning around and saying, “No I won’t. No I won’t.” And it was nothing to do with not being grateful. If people aren’t well-behaved, why would I thank him?’
‘The fact that I’m never going to have to deal with Harvey Weinstein again as long as I live is one of the best things that’s ever happened and I’m sure the feeling is universal,’ she added.
The actress revealed that Weinstein constantly reminded her that he gave her her start in her first film — 1994’s Heavenly Creatures — and even claimed credit for her Oscar.
Why would I? ‘I remember being told,’ she said. “Make sure you thank Harvey if you win.” And I remember turning around and saying, “No I won’t. No I won’t.” And it was nothing to do with not being grateful. If people aren’t well-behaved, why would I thank him?’
‘For my whole career, Harvey Weinstein, whenever I’ve bumped into him, he’d grab my arm and say, “Don’t forget who gave you your first movie.” Like I owe him everything.
‘Then later, with The Reader, same thing, “I’m gonna get you that Oscar nomination, I’m gonna get you a win, I’m gonna win for you.”
‘But that’s how he operated. He was bullying and nasty. Going on a business level, he was always very, very hard to deal with — he was rude,’ she continued, adding that he used to call her female agent by a vulgar term for a female every time he spoke to her on the phone.
She also claimed that while she was never sexually harassed by him, there was a whole ‘other can of worms’ regarding his behavior on the set of The Reader that she did not want to discuss.
‘I can’t even begin to describe the disgraceful behavior that went on — and I’m actually not going to because it’s a can of worms that I’m not prepared to publicly open — nothing to do with sexual harassment, thankfully, lucky me,’ she said. ‘My god. I somehow dodged that bullet.’
Repulsed: Winslet and Weinstein at the Venice Film Festival screening of Finding Neverland in 2004
Behind the scenes: She also claimed that while she was never sexually harassed by him, there was a whole ‘other can of worms’ regarding his behavior on the set of The Reader that she did not want to discuss.
Despite the film’s success, The Reader was the last time she ever worked with Weinstein.
‘Damn right,’ Winslet says. ‘I … stand up for myself and I don’t pander to what you’re supposed to do and what you’re not supposed to do. I won’t be pushed around or bullied by anyone. I was bullied as a child. Never again. Certainly not by Harvey Weinstein.’
‘This is disgraceful, despicable behavior,’ she continued. ‘This kind of treatment of any workplace is utterly unacceptable. And hopefully what will happen is that more women will feel compelled to come forward — these women are victims of crime by a man who was always impossible to deal with,’ she added.
‘I hope that Harvey Weinstein absolutely is punished within the fullest extent of the law should that be the case.’
Credit: The actress revealed that Weinstein constantly reminded her that he gave her her start in her first film — 1994’s Heavenly Creatures