Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner has joined the growing chorus of those in the entertainment industry and beyond condemning Harvey Weinstein following reports and accusations that the now-fired studio boss sexually harassed and assaulted multiple females over the past several years. Eisner, who acquired the Weinstein-founded studio Miramax for The Walt Disney Company in 1993, tweeted this message:
The Weinsteins left Miramax in 2005 following a rift with Disney, which included the company’s refusal to release Michael Moore’s documentary Fahrenheit 9/11. Later, the pair would found The Weinstein Company. Earlier this week, it was announced that the board of that studio had voted to fire Harvey from his position, with his brother Bob assuming leadership of the company.
UPDATE: Others with Disney ties released their own statements.
Bob Iger, Chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company:
“Harvey Weinstein’s reported behavior is abhorrent and unacceptable, and it has no place in our society,”
Jeffrey Katzenberg, Former Head of the Walt Disney Studios Sent the Following Email to Harvey Weinstein:
Hey Harvey, Here is the bottom line. You stated in your email below that “A lot of the allegations are false as you know.” Well actually I don’t “know” and given the timing of the circumstances, I have no way of knowing.
However, you yourself, in your quotes, have acknowledged that you have behaved inappropriately…so it seems to me we are now down to degrees of horrible.
You have done terrible things to a number of women over a period of years.
I cannot in any way say this is OK with me…It’s not at all, and I am sickened by it, angry with you and incredibly disappointed in you.
There appear to be two Harvey Weinsteins…one that I have known well, appreciated and admired and another that I have not known at all.
As someone who has been a friend of yours for 30 years, I’m available to give you advice on how to at least try to make amends, if possible address those that you’ve wronged, and just possibly find a path to heal and redeem yourself. Having watched your reactions, seen the actions you have taken and read your statement, I will tell you, in my opinion, you have gone about this all wrong and you are continuing to make a horrible set of circumstances even worse.
I doubt this is what you want to hear from me and most likely you aren’t interested in my advice but this is the way I see it. I remain available. JK.