Former President Barack Obama and wife Michelle Obama released a statement condemning Harvey Weinstein over the sexual assault and rape accusations that are piling up against the Hollywood producer.
“Michelle and I have been disgusted by the recent reports about Harvey Weinstein,” they wrote in a statement Tuesday evening. “Any man who demeans and degrades women in such fashion needs to be condemned and held accountable, regardless of wealth or status.”
It took Obama nearly a week to issue a reaction to the Weinstein fallout since the first bombshell report from the New York Times was published with decades of sexual harassment accusations against Weinstein. Since the first allegations came to light, several more women have come out to blame Weinstein of inappropriate behavior and on Tuesday a New Yorker story reported three women accused him of rape.
“We should celebrate the courage of women who have come forward to tell these painful stories,” the Obamas wrote. “And we all need to build a culture — including by empowering our girls and teaching our boys decency and respect — so we can make such behavior less prevalent in the future.”
Obama’s daughter, Malia, also interned for Weinstein’s company in New York while taking a gap year before going to college.
Several high-profile Democrats, including Obama, as well as Hillary Clinton and former Vice President Joe Biden, were subject to backlash over their slow reaction to the news. Clinton finally did issue a statement, saying she was “shocked and appalled,” earlier in the day Tuesday.
Obama and Clinton have both been recipients of Weinstein’s donations over the years, as have a number of other Democrats.
Several Democrats have pledged to give their donations to charity groups fighting sexual violence. It’s unclear whether Obama and Clinton will do so.
Weinstein reportedly bundled $679,275 for Obama’s re-election campaign.
Weinstein was a frequent visitor to the White House while Obama was president, visiting 13 times 2010 and 2014, including several meetings with Obama.
Weinstein was fired Sunday from the Weinstein Company amid the controversy.
