Model and actor says on Instagram that film producer sexually harassed her following a meeting about a movie part

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

The crisis engulfing Harvey Weinstein has ­intensified, after Cara Delevingne detailed how she was allegedly sexually harassed by him when she first started to work as an actor.

In a post on her Instagram page on Wednesday night, the model wrote that Weinstein had tried to get her to kiss another woman, and then tried to kiss her himself when she wanted to leave.

Delevingne had gone to a meeting with Weinstein and a director in a hotel lobby about an upcoming film but, after the director left, she said Weinstein asked her to stay and chat with him.



She wrote: “As soon as we were alone, he began to brag about all the actresses he had slept with and how he had made their careers and spoke about other inappropriate things of a sexual nature. He then invited me to his room.



“I quickly declined and asked his assistant if my car was outside. She said it wasn’t and wouldn’t be for a bit and I should go to his room.

“At that moment I felt very powerless and scared but didn’t want to act that way hoping that I was wrong about the situation.”

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Delevingne said that she was relieved to find another woman in the room, and thought she was safe, but that Weinstein then asked them to kiss. In order to get out of kissing the other woman Delevingne said she got up and tried to make the situation more like an audition by singing.

She wrote: “After singing I said again that I had to leave. He stood in front of [the door] and tried to kiss me on the lips. I stopped him and managed to get out of the room. I still got the part for the film and always thought that he gave it to me because of what happened.



“Since then I felt awful that I did the movie. I felt like I didn’t deserve the part. I was so hesitant about speaking out … I didn’t want to hurt his family. I felt guilty as if I did something wrong.

“I was also terrified that this sort of thing had happened to so many women I know but no one had said anything because of fear.”

The latest allegations came after Weinstein’s wife announced she was leaving him, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama expressed disgust at his actions and Bafta said that it was suspending his membership of the organisation.

Georgina Chapman, the co-founder of the Marchesa luxury brand and the mother of two of Weinstein’s children, said she was ending her 10-year marriage to the producer.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Georgina Chapman married Harvey Weinstein in 2007. Photograph: Danny Moloshok/Reuters

“My heart breaks for all the women who have suffered tremendous pain because of these unforgivable actions,” she said after three women accused her husband of rape and more stars including Angelina Jolie and Gwyneth Paltrow said he had sexually harassed them.

In a statement, Chapman, who founded Marchesa with her design partner Keren Craig in 2004, added: “I have chosen to leave my husband. Caring for my young children is my first priority.”

Weinstein said he understood his wife’s desire to separate. In a statement, he said: “I support her decision, I am in counselling and perhaps, when I am better, we can rebuild. Over the last week, there has been a lot of pain for my family that I take responsibility for.”

Barack and Michelle Obama, whose daughter Malia served as an intern in Weinstein’s company earlier this year, released a joint statement expressing their disgust.

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“Any man who demeans and degrades women in such fashion needs to be condemned and held accountable, regardless of wealth or status. We should celebrate the courage of women who have come forward to tell these painful stories,” the statement said.

Democrats in the US Congress, including the Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, and the Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren have given charities thousands of dollars in donations they had received from Weinstein.

Hillary Clinton said she was shocked and appalled by the revelations about Weinstein, and praised the women who had come forward:

Nick Merrill (@NickMerrill) Statement from Secretary Clinton on Harvey Weinstein: pic.twitter.com/L1l2wl9l0I

The UK film body Bafta said in a statement that it was suspending Weinstein from its membership, and that his alleged behaviour was “completely unacceptable and incompatible” with its values.

“We hope this announcement sends a clear message that such behaviour has absolutely no place in our industry,” the statement said.

The University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts has rejected a $5m (£3.8m) pledge from Weinstein to fund an endowment for female film-makers, and the British government suggested he could lose the CBE he was awarded in 2004 if he was found to have brought the honours system into disrepute.

In the government’s strongest intervention yet in the controversy, Theresa May’s official spokesperson said Weinstein’s alleged behaviour was unacceptable and deeply concerning, and praised the courage of the women who had come forward.

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“Any unwanted sexual activity is completely unacceptable and any allegations should be fully investigated,” the prime minister’s spokesperson said.

“The independent honours forfeiture committee considers cases when the honours system is brought into disrepute. Their discussions are confidential.”

Among the latest allegations are claims made in the New Yorker that Weinstein subjected the Italian actor Asia Argento to oral sex against her will and forced the aspiring actor Lucia Evans to perform oral sex on him.

The New Yorker also published an audio tape recorded from a police wiretap placed on the Italian model Ambra Battilana Gutierrez in which Weinstein admits to touching her breast previously and asks her to join him in his hotel room while he showers.

Paltrow, 45, told the New York Times that Weinstein attempted to lure her into giving him a massage in a hotel room when she was 22.



Weinstein has “unequivocally denied” allegations of non-consensual sex. More than a dozen women have now accused him of sexual harassment. He denies many of the accusations as “patently false”.

Sallie Hofmeister, a spokeswoman for Weinstein, said in response to the New Yorker accusations: “Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr Weinstein … with respect to any women who have made allegations on the record, Mr Weinstein believes that all of these relationships were consensual.”

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The Weinstein Company board of directors, which sacked Weinstein this week, issued a strongly worded statement on Tuesday night saying they had been unaware of the alleged abuses and payoffs.



“The Weinstein Company’s Board of Representatives – Bob Weinstein, Lance Maerov, Richard Koenigsberg and Tarak Ben Ammar – are shocked and dismayed by the recently emerged allegations of extreme sexual misconduct and sexual assault by Harvey Weinstein,” the statement said.

“These alleged actions are antithetical to human decency. These allegations come as an utter surprise to the board. Any suggestion that the board had knowledge of this conduct is false.”

They pledged to cooperate with police in any criminal or other investigations “while pursuing justice for the victims and a full and independent investigation of our own”.

Weinstein was sacked three days after a report in the New York Times alleged decades of crude sexual behaviour toward female employees and actors, including Ashley Judd.



More than 20 male actors and directors who have worked with Weinstein, including Quentin Tarantino and Michael Moore, declined to comment or failed to respond to inquiries from the Guardian about the accusations.



Among those who did comment were Colin Firth, who called Weinstein “a frightening man to stand up to”, and Benedict Cumberbatch, who stars as Thomas Edison in the upcoming Weinstein Company period drama The Current War.

“I am utterly disgusted by the continuing revelations of Harvey Weinstein’s horrifying and unforgivable actions,” Cumberbatch said in a statement.

“We need to collectively stand up and support victims of abuse such as the brave and inspiring women who have spoken out against him and say we hear you and believe you.”

Many other Hollywood figures have reacted with disgust and outrage, including Meryl Streep, Lena Dunham, Jennifer Lawrence and George Clooney.