Ben Affleck "knew" Harvey Weinstein was "sleazy", but didn’t think he could do anything about it.
The 65-year-old disgraced producer has been accused of sexually harassing more than 80 female employees over a 30-year period, and now ‘Justice League’ actor Ben has said that when he started out in Hollywood at the age of 24, he was made aware of Harvey’s alleged misconduct, but didn’t think he had the power to do anything to stop it.
Ben, now 45, said: "I knew he was sleazy and kind of a bully, but unfortunately that wasn’t uncommon. I was brand new to Hollywood … I was 24 years old. I never made a movie and didn’t know much of anything really."
The Hollywood hunk worked with Harvey on movies including ‘Good Will Hunting’ and ‘Shakespeare In Love’, and whilst he no longer has ties with The Weinstein Company – which Harvey was recently fired from – he can’t help but look back on his old flicks and wonder what was happening behind the scenes.
He added: "And, you know, it really is a shame because although I stopped working with Harvey a long time ago, those movies hold a special kind of place in my heart and to now look back on it and think like, ‘Gosh, some other people were going through something really ugly and disturbing [experiences].’"
And the ‘Argo’ star believes it’s "important" that women are speaking out about the alleged harassment they have faced, as it means people are able to witness the "terrible extent" of the issue, and can therefore work to stop it.
Speaking during an appearance on the ‘Today’ show on Friday (17.11.17), Ben said: "It certainly feels like a really important moment. It feels like a time when survivors are finding their voice and people are sort of – and I include myself in this – really discovering the terrible extent of this problem here in our country."
Ben Affleck knew Harvey Weinstein was ‘sleazy’
