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PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 12 February 2020
Winfrey says King not doing well after social media backlash

NEW YORK (Associated Bryant and dismissed. In the "I can see how people
Press) — Oprah Winfrey says clip, King asks Leslie wheth- would obviously be very
her friend Gayle King is fac- er the 2003 case made Bry- upset if you thought that
ing death threats following ant's legacy complicated Gayle was just trying to
a social media backlash for her. Leslie said that it did press to get an answer from
caused by an interview not. Lisa Leslie," Winfrey contin-
with retired WNBA star Lisa Critics lashed out at King ued.
Leslie that concerned the on social media for bring- "Obviously all things pass,
late Kobe Bryant. ing up the old allegations. she will be OK, but she
On an appearance on Actor, rap artist and televi- hasn't slept in two days."
"Hoda & Jenna & Friends" sion executive 50 Cent told After the alleged victim
on Friday, Winfrey said King The Associated Press he decided not to pursue
"is not doing well'' and has thought it was unfair be- the case, she and Bryant
to travel with security be- cause Bryant wasn't around reached a settlement in
cause of threats. "She feels to defend himself. 2005. Bryant, who was 24
very much attacked." Snoop Dogg posted a at the time of the Colorado
CBS released an excerpt profane Twitter video that In this Nov. 21, 2019 file photo, Oprah Winfrey speaks during the incident, said he had not
Celebration of the Life of Toni Morrison at the Cathedral of St.
to promote King's interview concluded with him urging John the Divine in New York. committed sexual assault.
with Leslie. The clip, distrib- King to back off "before we Associated Press Bryant, his 13-year-old
uted online and on CBS come get you." The Twit- daughter Gianna, and sev-
News' social media ac- ter account belonging to shared out of context and ing the clip "did not reflect en other people were killed
counts, focused on a por- imprisoned comedian Bill expressed anger at her net- the nature and tone" of the in a January helicopter
tion of the interview where Cosby also was critical. work. "I am mortified, I am complete interview. crash in Southern Califor-
Leslie addressed a Colora- King said in a video re- embarrassed and I'm very Winfrey criticized what she nia. A memorial will be held
do sexual assault case that sponse via Twitter on angry," King said. CBS later called "misogynist vitriol'' at the Staples Center in Los
had been brought against Thursday that the clip was released a statement say- against King. Angeles later this month. q

Closings next as Weinstein declines to testify at rape trial

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and doubt. Jurors are expect- ing the names of people
TOM HAYS ed to hear the defense’s who allege sexual assault
Associated Press closing argument Thurs- without their consent. It
NEW YORK (AP) — The de- day, followed by the pros- is withholding the name
fense rested its case Tues- ecution’s closing Friday. of the woman accusing
day in Harvey Weinstein’s Jury deliberations are slat- Weinstein of raping her in
rape trial without the dis- ed to start Tuesday. Court 2013 because it isn’t clear
graced Hollywood mogul is closed Wednesday and if she wishes to be identi-
taking the witness stand, again on Monday for holi- fied publicly.
setting the stage for clos- days. After the jury left for the
ing arguments in a land- By not testifying, Weinstein day, Weinstein’s lawyers
mark #MeToo trial punctu- followed the example of sparred with prosecutor
ated by graphic testimony defendants in other high- Joan Illuzzi-Orbon over
from six accusers. profile sex crimes cases. her plan to mention in
As expected, Weinstein They include Bill Cosby, her closing argument that
chose not to testify, avoid- who didn’t take the wit- his physical appearance Harvey Weinstein arrives for his rape trial, Tuesday, Feb. 11,
ing the risk of having pros- ness stand either time he has changed significantly 2020 in New York. Associated Press
ecutors grill him on cross- was tried for drugging since the time of the al-
examination about the and molesting a woman leged assaults. timony of three witnesses Hollywood party a few
vile allegations. He con- at his suburban Philadel- Weinstein has hobbled that Weinstein’s lawyers months before the alleged
firmed the decision after phia home. After a mistrial into court each day with a used to try to cast doubt rape. She said when the
returning to the courtroom in 2017, a second trial re- walker, parking the device on the accounts on two of women figured out he was
from meeting with his law- sulted in the comedian’s behind the defense table. the accusers. an industry big shot, she
yers behind closed doors conviction. His lawyers say it’s needed Talita Maia, a former jokingly told him “that’s
for about a half-hour as Weinstein, 67, is charged because of recent back roommate of the woman why everyone is being so
speculation swirled that he with forcibly performing surgery, but Illuzzi said it Weinstein is charged with nice to you.”
was pushing to testify. oral sex on Mimi Haleyi in seemed more like a prop raping, told the jury the Her roommate, she add-
Asked as he left court if he 2006 and raping a different put there to sway jurors’ woman never gave any ed, went even further. She
was thinking of testifying, woman in a Manhattan sympathies. “You can indication that he victim- testified that the woman
Weinstein said: “I wanted hotel room in 2013. Other scream all you like,” Illuzzi ized her — in fact, she said, put her arm around Wein-
to.” accusers were called as said. “They did not have the woman spoke highly of stein, pinched his cheeks
Defense lawyer Arthur witnesses as part of a pros- to have the walker back him and once called him and said: “No, it’s because
Aidala added that Wein- ecution effort to show he there.” her “spiritual soulmate.” he is so cute.”
stein “was ready, willing, has used the same tactics After more bickering, “She seemed to really like Another friend of the
able and actually quite to victimize many women Judge James Burke said it him as a person,” Maia woman testified Tuesday
anxious to testify and clear over the years. was fine for Illuzzi to men- said. “She would only that she seemed like “her
his name” but didn’t do so Weinstein has maintained tion Weinstein’s physical compliment him.” everyday self” when they
because his lawyers felt any sexual encounters changes, but warned: Maia also gave a breezy met up for breakfast with
prosecutors “failed miser- were consensual. “Leave the walker out description of how the Weinstein just a short time
ably” to prove their case The Associated Press has of it.” The defense case then-aspiring actress and after she alleges he as-
beyond a reasonable a policy of not publish- mainly relied on the tes- Weinstein first met at a saulted her.q