Oscar board meets over Weinstein

Harvey Weinstein’s brother has denied reports in the media that their film production company could be closed or sold.

The company fired Harvey Weinstein last Sunday amid a growing number of allegations of sexual harassment.

Bob Weinstein will take the reins of The Weinstein Company now that Harvey is out https://t.co/XPZsjBcLNL pic.twitter.com/Q7EsUcBuXI— Variety (@Variety) 8 octobre 2017

What did the reports say?

The Los Angeles Times says financers had begun to pressure the company to sell. Potential buyers are said to be “circling”.

WeinsteinCo. boardisfightingover possible sale, future of the companyhttps://t.co/V8y3DZfsac— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) 14 octobre 2017

The Wall Street Journal reports the company is “exploring a sale or shutdown” and is “unlikely to continue as an independent entity”.

WeinsteinCo. isunlikelyto continue as an independententityhttps://t.co/IEyDc7QbX7— Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) 14 octobre 2017

The allegations

Police investigations are underway in both the US and the UK, reported to involve claims of rape, sexual assault, groping and harassment.

The New York Police Department is looking into an allegation dating from 2004 and is examining whether there are any additional complaints.

The Metropolitan Police in London is looking at an allegation of sexual assault in the capital dating from the 1980s.

Harvey Weinstein, who is believed to be in Europe, maintains any sexual encounters he had were consensual.

The New York Times broke the story on 5 October when it detailed decades of allegations of sexual harassment against Weinstein.

GwynethPaltrowand Angelina Jolie saidHarvey Weinsteinsexuallyharassedthemwhentheywereyoungactresseshttps://t.co/O9xBKp45Ye— The New York Times (@nytimes) 10 octobre 2017

The Oscars

The organisers of the Oscars film awards will hold an emergency meeting on Saturday amid speculation they could suspend Harvey Weinstein’s membership.

BAFTA (the British Academy of Film and Television Arts) has already done so.

Oscars to discussresponseto Harvey Weinsteinallegationshttps://t.co/fJB0X96ihE— Guardian US (@GuardianUS) 12 octobre 2017