Just over two years after numerous women accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault and harrasment, the film producer has reached a tentative settlement with his accusers. The New York Times reports that Weinstein and the board of the Weinstein Company have reached a $25 million settlement agreement with dozens of his alleged sexual misconduct victims. He will not have to admit to any wrongdoing or pay his accusers himself if the settlement goes through.
So far, those involved in the settlement have come to an agreement. That includes more than 30 actresses and former employees of Weinstein and the Weinstein Company. The tentative settlement will have to be approved in court and get a final agreement from all parties involved. The payout will reportedly be part of a $47 million settlement, which will be paid for by insurance companies that represent his former studio.
Weinstein is currently scheduled to be tried in court in January over sexual assault charges leveled against him by two women. A portion of the $12 million of the overall settlement will go to Weinstein's own legal costs, his brother Bob Weinstein, and other ex-members of the studio's board. As a result, the members of the board will not be further liable and the alleged victims involved would drop charges.
Katherine Kendall, who accused the producer of chasing her nude around his New York apartment in 1993, said she isn't entirely happy with the settlement. "I don't love it, but I don't know how to go after him," she said. "I don't know what I can really do." Sexual harassment lawyer Genie Harrison, who represents some of the accusers, added, "I don't think there's a markedly better deal to be made. We have really, truly done the best we can under the circumstances."
In total, eighteen of the victims would split $6.2 million, while $18.5 million would be put to the side for anyone still part of a class-action case against Weinstein. A court-appointed monitor will divy out the payments based on the severity of the alleged harm he inflicted.
Rebecca Goldman, Chief Operating Officer of TIME’S UP Foundation, released a statement on the tentative settlement. “This settlement is more than a math problem – it’s a symptom of a problematic, broken system that privileges powerful abusers at the expense of survivors," she said.
“While this settlement is flawed, we know it represents the hard work of several survivors of Harvey Weinstein. We hope it brings them, and perhaps others, some small measure of justice and relief that is long overdue," Goldman added.
