Even though it feels like the Harvey Weinsteinallegations were made years ago, it’s actually been less than six months since the first brave women decided to come forward with their stories of decades of sexual assault at the hands of the disgraced Hollywood mogul. Since then, they have emboldened women everywhere, and it has resulted in multiple men seeing real consequences for their unacceptable behavior. But that doesn’t mean Weinstein is off the hook just yet. He is currently facing multiplelawsuits in multiple cities, but now he’s got one more to add to the list: his former personal assistant has hit Weinstein with yet another explosive lawsuit, per Deadline.
Sandeep Rehal worked in the “pervasive and severe sexually hostile work environment” that was The Weinstein Company for two years from 2013 to 2015. In a court filing, Rehal describes the “endless offensive, degrading, and sexually harassing actions, statements, and touching at the hands of [Weinstein].”
As is often the case, the “hostile work environment” was by no means a result of only one man’s despicable behavior. It was “condoned and enabled by TWC, Robert Weinstein [Harvey’s brother and business partner], and the head of Human Resources Frank Gil.” All three men are named as defendants in Rehal's lawsuit.
The court documents go into disgusting detail of how Rehal was forced into “offensive chores” to “assist” in Weinstein’s sex life. She had to maintain a running list of his available women and manage his stock of Caverject, the drug Weinstein took for erectile dysfunction. “She had to obtain the shots and keep them stocked in cabinet behind her desk at Harvey Weinstein’s TWC office,” documents from the office of Saher’s lawyer, Genie Harrison, state. “Every time Harvey Weinstein went to meet a woman at a hotel, in the office, or elsewhere, which occurred on average at least three times a week when he was in New York, Ms. Rehal was required as part of her job to provide Harvey Weinstein with a shot, which she placed in his jacket pocket or in a brown paper bag.”
The lawsuit documents reveal what working for Weinstein entailed. It details behavior described as “leering” as well as naked emailing and pawing. Weinstein would feel the need to “brag” about his power over his employees, even going so far as to tell Rehal and other employees, “‘I am Harvey Weinstein and you are at Weinstein University. I decide whether or not you graduate.’”
“She had no choice but to leave the job she needed to support herself,” the filing states. “As a result of the hostile work environment caused by the incessant sexual harassment, Ms. Rehal has suffered, and continues to suffer from severe emotional distress, anxiety, depression, humiliation, fear, anguish and loss of self-esteem.”
