Rosanna Arquette Responds to Harvey Weinstein's Claims of 'Exaggerated' Assault Account

Rosanna Arquette has vehemently denied Harvey Weinstein’s assertions that she “exaggerated” her account of his alleged sexual assault. The denial comes in response to Weinstein's recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

Harvey Weinstein, the former head of Miramax Films, became a central figure in the #MeToo movement, facing over 80 accusations of misconduct. While he denies all wrongdoing, he is currently incarcerated in Rikers Island prison following a rape conviction.

In 2020, Weinstein was convicted of first-degree and third-degree rape, receiving a 23-year prison sentence. However, the New York Court of Appeals later overturned this conviction, citing improper rulings by the trial judge. Despite this, Weinstein remains imprisoned, serving a 16-year sentence following a 2022 California rape conviction.

In a recent interview, Weinstein addressed claims that he professionally blackballed women who resisted his advances.

The convicted rapist stated: “I may be a tough guy, but I’m not deranged. Just the threat of Harvey was enough, maybe more than enough. But it didn’t go to the point of blackballing anybody...If the camera’s on, I’m just going to say Rosanna Arquette, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie – they just exaggerated. They wanted to be part of the club. And they destroyed me.”

Arquette first accused Weinstein of assault in The New Yorker in 2017, an article that helped ignite the #MeToo movement. She recounted an incident from the early 1990s where she met Weinstein at the Beverly Hills Hotel to pick up a script. She was directed to his room, where she found him in a bathrobe, requesting a massage. Arquette alleged that Weinstein grabbed her hand and placed it on his neck, then pulled it towards his exposed penis. She stated she told Weinstein, "I will never do that."

In a letter shared with The Hollywood Reporter, Arquette directly responded to Weinstein’s recent comments, firmly refuting any exaggeration of her experience. "I have never exaggerated my assault. Ever," she stated. "My account of what happened has never changed. A simple Google search makes this clear."

Rosanna Arquette

She further addressed Weinstein's claim that survivors sought financial gain, stating she “never profited, nor was I ever compensated in any way, via lawsuit or settlement, by Harvey Weinstein or Disney or any other party with respect to my assault”.

Arquette mentioned her role in Pulp Fiction, a film produced by Weinstein, for which she was paid scale without back-end participation. She later learned that other cast members received back-end deals in exchange for reduced fees, a deal she was not offered despite the film's significant financial success.

Arquette also commented on the conditions at Rikers Island, describing them as “horrible” and advocating for its closure. She expressed a wish for Weinstein to be transferred to a more humane prison, emphasizing the importance of upholding the human rights of all prisoners.

For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.

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