Rose McGowan Questions If Harvey Weinstein Is Actually Behind Bars
The actress and activist who helped spark the MeToo movement expresses doubt about whether the convicted producer is truly serving his prison sentence, calling him a 'thug' and questioning Hollywood's justice system.
Rose McGowan, the actress and activist who became one of Harvey Weinstein's first public accusers, has raised serious questions about whether the disgraced film producer is actually serving time in prison. Speaking on Paul Brunson's podcast 'We Need To Talk,' McGowan suggested Weinstein might be living comfortably in a Connecticut mansion instead of behind bars.
McGowan was among the first women to publicly accuse Weinstein of sexual assault, helping launch the global MeToo movement that encouraged countless women to share their experiences of abuse in the entertainment industry. More than 100 women eventually came forward with allegations against the producer.
Convictions and Legal Battles
Weinstein's legal troubles resulted in multiple convictions. In 2020, a New York court sentenced him to 23 years in prison for rape and criminal sexual acts. That conviction was overturned in April 2024 due to procedural errors involving testimony, and retrial proceedings are currently underway. Separately, a Los Angeles court convicted him in 2022 on rape and other sexual offense charges, resulting in an additional 16-year sentence.
Despite these convictions, McGowan remains skeptical about Weinstein's actual imprisonment. When asked whether justice had been served, she responded, 'I would love to see a picture of him in prison. I suspect he's been in a mansion in Connecticut. That's my theory.'
Hollywood's Former Golden Boy
McGowan didn't hold back in describing Weinstein's character and his former status in Hollywood. 'I think he was a thug. Not the Mafia boss of the cool kind with the suit, like Marlon Brando, Godfather type, but more like a street way,' she explained during the interview.
The actress also reflected on how deeply embedded Weinstein was in Hollywood's power structure. 'They calculated that he was thanked more times than God at the Oscars. Harvey Weinstein was their god. This was far worse than the cult I grew up in,' McGowan said, referencing her childhood in the Children of God religious group.
Personal Impact and Future Plans
McGowan opened up about the personal toll of her fight against Weinstein and the entertainment industry. 'The majority of my life than not I have had this warthog from hell on my back and buying off public's perception of me,' she shared during the emotional interview.
Despite the challenges, the 'Scream' actress expressed interest in returning to acting. Her comments suggest she's ready to move forward after years of battling both Weinstein and what she sees as a corrupt system that protected him.
McGowan added her uncertainty about Weinstein's current situation with a characteristic Hollywood reference: 'I don't know if he's ever spent a day in prison. Hollywood, baby. I don't know, maybe.'