Harvey Weinstein: Business 'as usual' at Weinstein Company amid reports of sale or shutdown after assault allegations

Bob Weinstein has said that it is business “as usual” for the film company he founded with his brother Harvey Weinstein, amid reports that a possible sale or shutdown is being explored in the wake of a storm of sexual harassment and assault allegations made against his brother Harvey.

Having fired Harvey Weinstein – with the number of allegations mounting – members of The Weinstein Company's board of directors were said to have started talking to potential buyers as it tries to figure out how to proceed amid the controversy.

In a statement, Bob Weinstein disputed reports that the company's future was in jeopardy saying that “our banks, partners and shareholders are fully supportive” and that the reports were “untrue”. He even touted several upcoming film releases for the company, claiming that its animated sequel Paddington 2 was testing “through the roof.”

Public accusations that Harvey Weinstein raped, sexually assaulted or harassed more than two dozen women have sent a ripple through Hollywood in recent days. He denies all allegations of non-consensual sex and has said many other allegations are false.

A number of high-profile members of the Hollywood elite have publicly repudiated Mr Weinstein's behaviour, including longtime friend and collaborator Quentin Tarantino, who spoke out on Friday.

“For the last week, I’ve been stunned and heartbroken about the revelations that have come to light about my friend for 25 years Harvey Weinstein,” Mr Tarantino wrote in a statement released by friend Amber Tamblyn on Twitter. “I need a few more days to process my pain, emotions, anger, and memory, and then I will speak publicly about it.”

Mr Tarantino, whose breakout film Reservoir Dogs was distributed by Mr Weinstein’s company in 1992, was one of several longtime collaborators who spoke up against the film executive who had played an important role in helping launch their careers.

Nicole Kidman also followed up a statement applauding those accusing the movie mogul of harassment and assault by urging women to stay strong. She told Magic Radio: “Particularly for a young girl, it's 'take care of yourself, make sure you are protected, don't let anyone break your spirit and be yourself'.

“So much of the time we model ourselves and our identities on what we see, and actually finding who you are and what you want to say and what your voice is, is one of the hardest things to do, but one of the most important things to do.”

On Mr Weinstein, she added: “We cannot tolerate this behaviour.”

Women took to social media to protest the culture of silence in Hollywood after actress Rose McGowan publicly accused Mr Weinstein of rape, and said that a studio executive at Amazon Studios had allegedly ignored her claims.

Those accusations came as Amazon said that Amazon Studios chief Roy Price had been placed on a leave of absence, having himself been accused of sexually harassing a female producer. Mr Price has not commented on the allegations.

Meanwhile, financial firm Goldman Sachs indicated that it was reviewing their small stake in The Weinstein Company amid the allegations against Harvey Weinstein.

The allegations first gained prominence last Thursday when the New York Times published an article alleging that Mr Weinstein had repeatedly sexually harassed or assaulted women. Following that report, a report in the New Yorker dug deeper into the issue, including three accusations of rape against Mr Weinstein, in addition to further accusations of sexual assault or harassment.

So far, more than 30 women have come forward with allegations of assault or harassment conducted by Mr Weinstein. That includes accounts of inappropriate sexual behaviour from actresses Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Kate Beckinsale.

Those allegations have the potential to lead to criminal prosecution as well. Police departments in New York and London have opened up investigations into the allegations, and are reportedly speaking to the accusers to determine if any of the alleged incidents occurred within their jurisdictions.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organisation that has handed out 81 Oscars to films produced by Weinstein companies, has suspended Mr Weinstein’s membership in their organisation, and plans on holding an emergency meeting to determine if any further actions are required to respond to the allegations.