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PEOPLE & ARTS Thursday 12 March 2020
Weinstein gets 23 years in sentence hailed by accusers

By MICHAEL R. SISAK, TOM activity was consensual,
HAYS and JENNIFER PELTZ showed no visible reaction
Associated Press to the sentence.
NEW YORK (AP) — Harvey Beforehand, he gave a
Weinstein pleaded for mer- rambling speech that
cy and said he was "totally touched on his past chari-
confused" by the sex crime table fund-raising, his film-
case that got him sen- making career and a
tenced Wednesday to 23 pledge that his new "mis-
years in prison, capping the sion is to help people."
onetime Hollywood mo- He said his "empathy has
gul's #MeToo downfall. grown" since his downfall.
His accusers — those who He said he had thought he
testified against him and had good friendships with
many others who have spo- Haleyi and the rape accus-
ken out elsewhere against er, who exchanged warm
the former Hollywood mo- emails with him after the al-
gul — hailed the near-max- leged attacks.
imum punishment for his The rape accuser testified
rape and criminal sex act that she maintained a flat-
convictions as long over- tering, friendly tone with
due. Weinstein because she
Weinstein, 67, broke his thought it safer not to be
courtroom silence to say Harvey Weinstein arrives at a Manhattan courthouse as jury deliberations continue in his rape trial, seen as threatening.
he felt "remorse for this situ- Monday, Feb. 24, 2020, in New York. Associated Press Years of whispers about
ation." But he also argued Weinstein's alleged behav-
that men are being ac- at his apartment in 2006. on their lives, and the em- cally does not name peo- ior burst into public view in
cused of "things that none He faced a maximum of 29 powerment they felt when ple, without their consent, The New York Times and
of us understood." years in prison. testifying against him. who say they were sexually The New Yorker in 2017.
"Thousands of men are los- The conviction marked the "Rape is not just one mo- assaulted. It is withholding In the aftermath, more
ing due process. I'm wor- first criminal fallout from a ment of penetration. It is the rape accuser's name than 90 women, including
ried about this country," he raft of allegations that the forever," said the 2013 rape because it is not clear Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma
said in a calm but creaking Oscar-winning movie pro- accuser, who recalled a whether she wishes to be Hayek and other actresses,
voice. "I'm totally confused. ducer used his clout to lure moment during the trial identified. publicly accused Weinstein
I think men are confused women, sexually assault or when she left the witness Haleyi broke down in tears of sexual assault and sexual
about these issues." harass them and then si- stand in tears and then as she told the court the harassment. The takedown
Weinstein has been ac- lence them. could be heard screaming 2006 attack scarred her energized the #MeToo
cused of violating scores "Although this is a first con- from an adjacent room. deeply and "stripped me movement for speaking up
of women. He was con- viction, this is not a first of- It was, she said, "the day of my dignity as a woman." about sexual assault.
victed last month of rap- fense," Judge James Burke my voice came back to its The encounter made her Time's Up, an organization
ing a once-aspiring actress said before revealing the full power," she said. rethink her career in the en- created in the wake of
in a New York City hotel prison sentence. Asked later about her reac- tertainment business and #MeToo, on Wednesday
room in 2013 and forcibly Both of the women Wein- tion after the sentence, she left her feeling afraid of re- hailed the women who tes-
performing oral sex on for- stein was convicted of wiped her eyes, raised her taliation, she said. tified against him for "the
mer TV and film produc- assaulting told the court arm and nodded her head. Weinstein, who has main- impact that they have had
tion assistant Mimi Haleyi about the impact he had The Associated Press typi- tained that any sexual on our culture at large."q

Coachella festival postponed as concerts grapple with virus

By MESFIN FEKADU local health authorities, nally announced as head-
Associated Press we must sadly confirm the liners of Coachella; Gold-
The uber-popular Coachel- rescheduling of Coachella envoice didn’t say if the
la music festival has been and Stagecoach due to performance lineup would
postponed from its usual COVID-19 concerns. While change or stay intact. Oth-
two-weekend-run in April this decision comes at a ers announced to perform
to October due to con- time of universal uncer- include Calvin Harris, Lana
cerns about the growing tainty, we take the safety Del Rey, Thom Yorke, 21
coronavirus. The festival’s and health of our guests, Savage, Disclosure, Sum-
producer Goldenvoice staff and community very mer Walker, Lil Uzi Vert and
made the announcement seriously. We urge every- FKA twigs.
Tuesday, also confirming one to follow the guide- Riverside County, which
that Stagecoach, a coun- lines and protocols put has six coronavirus cases,
try music festival, will also forth by public health offi- declared a public health
be postponed. Coachella, cials,” Goldenvoice said in emergency on Sunday.
held in Southern Califor- a statement. “No doubt it will impact
nia, will now take place on The company said all pass- This April 13, 2012 file photo shows festivalgoers running toward many people, but my top
Oct. 9-11 and Oct. 16-18, es for original dates will be the main stage at the 2012 Coachella Valley Music and Arts priority is to protect the
while Stagecoach will take honored for the resched- Festival in Indio, Calif. Associated Press health of the entire com-
place Oct. 23-25. uled shows, and customers munity.” said Riverside
“At the direction of the will be notified by Friday if they cannot attend. chine, Travis Scott and County Public Health Of-
County of Riverside and on how to obtain a refund Rage Against the Ma- Frank Ocean were origi- ficer Dr. Cameron Kaiser.q