Salma Hayek claims Harvey Weinstein made death threat
By Alexandra Heilbron on December 14, 2017 | 13 Comments
Salma Hayek has decided to finally speak up about the abuse she experienced at the hands of disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein. In a New York Times op-ed titled Harvey Weinstein is My Monster Too, she describes how she went to Weinstein to negotiate a deal for Frida (2002), a movie about artist Frida Kahlo, which Salma would star in and produce. He offered her minimum scale plus 10 percent for her starring role and no pay for producing.
A star in her native Mexico since her early 20s, she wrote that because she was relatively unknown in the U.S. at the time, “I did not care about the money; I was so excited to work with him and [Miramax]. In my naïveté, I thought my dream had come true.”
However, she soon learned his true nature and revealed, “I don’t think he hated anything more than the word “no.”
She recounts all the times she said no to him: “No to opening the door to him at all hours of the night, hotel after hotel, location after location, where he would show up unexpectedly, including one location where I was doing a movie he wasn’t even involved with. No to me taking a shower with him. No to letting him watch me take a shower. No to letting him give me a massage. No to letting a naked friend of his give me a massage. No to letting him give me oral sex. No to my getting naked with another woman. No, no, no, no, no … And with every refusal came Harvey’s Machiavellian rage.”
She says when he realized she wasn’t going to give in to his demands, he told her, “I will kill you, don’t think I can’t.”
With the help of her friends, including Antonio Banderas, Edward Norton and Ashley Judd, she was able to get the film produced, but she wrote that she believes she escaped being raped by Weinstein because of her friendships with directors Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino, as well as George Clooney.
Frida went on to win two Oscars, and Salma received a nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role (despite Weinstein criticizing her acting during filming). Salma reveals she had a contract with Weinstein, who never offered her a leading role again — instead, he cast her in minor roles for the duration of the contract.
She concluded her op-ed with this: “I am grateful for everyone who is listening to our experiences. I hope that adding my voice to the chorus of those who are finally speaking out will shed light on why it is so difficult, and why so many of us have waited so long. Men sexually harassed because they could. Women are talking today because, in this new era, we finally can.” ~Alexandra Heilbron
Comments & Discussion
Similar Articles
Julia Roberts, George Clooney provide a “Ticket to Paradise”
October 21, 2022 | Leave a Comment
Ticket to Ride is the long-awaited comedy pairing of George Clooney and Julia Roberts and it’s everything fans have waited for. Click to read our review.
What to watch at home this week January 3 to 8, 2022
January 5, 2022 | Leave a Comment
Find out what’s streaming this week as well as what’s new on DVD and Blu-ray, including The Tender Bar directed by George Clooney and starring Ben Affleck.
George Clooney recalls fans filming his motorcycle accident
December 2, 2021 | 1 Comment
George Clooney recalls his 2018 motorcycle accident and how frustrated he felt as bystanders gathered to photograph and film him, instead of helping him.
the same when I went through engineering for my 2nd master, I was told I don’t have the brains for it by the head of the dept. at the top University in Toronto, Canada. So I told the prof. to take a hike, and put in a complaint with the Dean of engineering.
us women need to believe in ourselves, our feelings, to demand proper respect, compensation just like the men do and the same amount, and stand up for unfairness and poor treatment. cheers, Mariana Grinblat, M.Sc., M. Eng.
Salma in this case I believe what Harvey said about the situation! That it was differences dealing with artistic interpretations. How to get the best film made. Unfair about the writing credit.
Salma’s a coward. Didn’t tell about it until so many other women did — hiding behind them all. She’s not brave for coming out, she’s just a follower — no guts.
I am a man, Selma’s hot. But she is no coward. The “me too phenomenon has been truly a revelation for the world as to just how pervasive sexual predation on girls/ women is. Almost unanimous. She is not a coward, what an absurd thing to barf up.
Terry Kellington…. yes, it’s obvious you are a man as per your comment “Selma’s hot.” The means you see her as a sex object rather than as a female human being. Someone who views women as you do has no business placing your opinions on issues of sexual harassment. You and your ilk ARE part of the problem.
Terry, have you never heard the phrase “there’s strength in numbers”? As someone who has probably never been sexually assaulted or violated, you really should keep your opinions to yourself.
Salma you have my apology If Harvey Weinstein put you through all that emotional hell he is a monster. You were great in the movie anyway. I retract my first comment I hadn’t read the article in The Daily Beast earlier
It s about time people started listening to victims. There are so many victims that get blamed . These predators should be doing time for their crimes. A rapist doesn t just rape once. They rape over and over again. It s time they are punished for destroying peoples lives.
Terry’s a moron
Wendy Barnes………You know NOTHING about me. FYI I have been preyed upon by sexual predators — including my grandfather —- from the age of 10 yrs old after my father was killed….RAPED at age 12 …. shall I go on?….and on?? If people would have spoken up about these predators at the beginning, they would never have had a chance to prey on another child…. OR adult!! So don’t you DARE preach to me about who has or has not been sexually assaulted!! Opinions?? You keep YOURS to yourself since you seem to think you have the right to dictate about who does and who does not have a right to put their opinions out there.
As for Steve — I’m a moron? …. well you are a verbally abusive POS — you called it first, so suck it up JERK!!
Interesting comments. Can’t add much that hasn’t been said. But yes, the salma is hot comment dies not help.
Does not help. Sorry.
What a load of crap