Rose McGowan claims she was the "architect" of Harvey Weinstein’s downfall.
The 44-year-old actress was one of the first women to speak out and accuse the disgraced movie mogul of rape when The New York Times and New Yorker published an expose of his decades of alleged sexual misconduct and assault in October, and she believes her outspoken stance was instrumental in his fall from grace.
Talk show host Stephen Colbert said: "Six months ago before you and other people had the courage and bravery to come out about Harvey Weinstein…"
His guest interrupted him and said: Mine was a year ago, I was the architect.
"But I didn’t talk … I wanted them to have a voice."
The ‘Citizen Rose’ star – who was allegedly paid a $100,000 settlement to "avoid litigation and buy peace" by Weinstein in 1997 – was also asked if she was called "crazy" for speaking out.
She said: "No. I always knew it was everybody else. No, I see things.
"They’ll make me seem crazy for saying it…
"It’s called gaslighting, it’s been going on to women and men in society, all of us, since the dawn of time."
Meanwhile, the former ‘Charmed’ star’s legal team has hit back after Weinstein’s lawyer issued a statement in which he branded Rose’s rape claims a "big lie" and accused her of trying to "smear" him to promote her new book, ‘Brave’.
The actress’ lawyer insists the movie mogul’s comments "unequivocally proves a continued attempt to malign, smear and ‘slut shame’ McGowan."
The statement added: "It is an affront not only to Rose but to the hundreds of women who have come forward with their stories of harassment, sexual abuse and rape perpetrated by Mr. Weinstein and those like him.
"This is a sad, pathetic old-fashioned sexist attempt to undermine obvious truth and the gaslighting will no longer be tolerated. The ‘performance’ is him and his complicity machine, and they are bad actors
"Mr. Weinstein has used his power to violate Rose in all too many ways…Mr. Weinstein’s attempts to discredit Rose is part of his 20 year long campaign to silence her, clearly proving he IS the monster so many women have described him to be.
"Like so many other #MeToo’s, Rose will continue to push back at ingrained thought and a corrupt power structure."
Rose McGowan was ‘architect’ in Weinstein’s downfall
