Mimi Haleyi, a former production assistant on a Weinstein-produced TV series, is the latest to come forward in light of sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein. During a press conference on Tuesday, the alleged victim said an assistant brought her up to his hotel room where the movie mogul asked if she would give him a massage. The alleged incident took place after the Cannes Film Festival in 2004.
The former production assistant said she suggested that the studio boss should call a masseuse to help him out. Harvey Weinstein, however, was persistent and continued to ask her the favor.
Production assistant recounts experience with Harvey Weinstein amid scandal
After realizing that their conversation was going nowhere, Mimi Haleyi decided to leave the producer. "I was crying as I felt completely humiliated and stupid for having been excited about meeting with him," she told the press.
Unfortunately, the renowned film mogul did not stop targeting the production assistant after the first encounter in his hotel room. Mimi Haleyi claimed Harvey Weinstein showed up at her apartment twice on the same day, where he allegedly begged the assistant to join him in Paris.
After these encounters, Mimi Haleyi also recalled another horror she experienced when the movie mogul invited her to his residence.
She said the two of them were watching television when Harvey Weinstein brought her inside what seemed to be a kids' bedroom.
The production assistant said she tried to resist, and that the producer held her down on the bed. She also asked him to stop and let go of her but the studio head was persistent as he continued to make advances toward her.
"He then orally forced himself on me while I was on my period," she recounted.
The issue of sexual assault in Hollywood
After Mimi Haleyi spoke out about her experience with the controversial producer, a representative said Harvey Weinstein is denying any allegations of non-consensual interaction amid an increasing number of women accusing him of sexual assault and/or harassment.
Mimi Haleyi is just one of the dozens of women who have come forward to expose the producer for his alleged sexual misdeeds spanning about three decades. It was earlier this month when a publication ran an exposé about the film personality.
Since then, a long list of female employees and celebrities have shared their own experiences of sexual assault or misconduct at the hands of Harvey Weinstein. The issue has also stirred up public interest in sexual abuse, not only in Hollywood, but also in other industries.
