A female New York City TV journalist was cornered by Harvey Weinstein in the hallway of a restaurant as he masturbated back in 2007, according to a report Friday — the latest in series of sexual harassment allegations coming out this week against the Hollywood producer.
Lauren Sivan, who was a news anchor at the time, told the Huffington Post about the encounter at Cafe Socialista, where Weinstein was an investor.
According to Sivan, during a tour of the New York City restaurant Weinstein, stopped in a hallway and tried to kiss her. She stopped him and said she had a boyfriend, after which Weinstein told her, “Well, can you just stand there and shut up.” He then exposed himself and proceeded to masturbate into a potted plant as she was stuck between him and the bathrooms. Weinstein then zipped up his pants and walked into the kitchen.
A day later Weinstein called to say he “had a great time last night,” but Weinstein said she turned down his offer to meet again at a future date.
Lisa Bloom, Weinstein’s attorney, told the Huffington Post that Weinstein was not available for an interview, and a Weinstein Company publicist didn’t answer questions about the story.
Weinstein is taking a leave of absence from the Weinstein Company as it conducts an investigation in response to the New York Times report this week which contained three decades of previously undisclosed sexual allegations made against him.
