Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has spoken publicly about life behind bars in his first major interview from prison, describing his experience as extremely harsh and isolating.
Weinstein, now in his 70s, is currently being held at Rikers Island in New York. During the interview, he said prison conditions are so difficult that he spends most of his time alone in his cell.
According to Weinstein, he is often isolated for safety reasons and sometimes spends up to 23 hours a day in his cell, with very little interaction besides conversations with guards and medical staff.
He also described feeling constantly threatened by other inmates, claiming that prisoners sometimes approach him demanding money, legal help, or favors. Weinstein said the environment makes him feel as though he is “under siege.”
In one incident he described, Weinstein said another inmate punched him in the face while he was waiting to use a phone. He claimed the attack left him bleeding and injured, but he refused to identify the attacker afterward.
During the interview, Weinstein continued to deny committing sexual assault, insisting that while he admitted to being unfaithful in his personal life, he maintains that he did not commit the crimes he was accused of.
The former film mogul’s legal troubles began in 2017 when dozens of women accused him of sexual misconduct, sparking the global #MeToo movement and dramatically reshaping Hollywood.
Once one of the most powerful figures in the movie industry, Weinstein is now serving prison time following multiple convictions related to sexual assault cases in New York and California.
