Harvey Weinstein describes ‘dangerous’ Rikers prison life and assault claim

Harvey Weinstein claims he was assaulted in prison, describing it as isolating and dangerous. Photo / Getty Images

Harvey Weinstein claims he was violently assaulted while serving his prison sentence.

The 73-year-old disgraced American former movie producer, convicted of rape and sexual assault in cases brought in New York and Los Angeles, described the incident and his daily life in custody during a new interview with the Hollywood Reporter – telling a US publication he was “punched hard in the face” and left bleeding on the floor while incarcerated.

Weinstein is currently being held at Rikers Island while awaiting a retrial on charges relating to the alleged rape of an actress at a hotel in Manhattan.

In the interview, he described prison life as isolating and dangerous, saying he spends most of his time confined to his cell and has minimal interaction with other people while in custody.

Weinstein said: “One time while I was waiting to use the phone, I asked the guy in front of me if he was done.

“He got off and punched me hard in the face. I fell on the floor, bleeding everywhere. I was hurt really badly.”

Weinstein, diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia, fears dying in custody and losing family contact. Photo / Getty Images

Weinstein added that prison officers asked him to identify his attacker but he refused.

He said: “The cops asked me who had done it, but I couldn’t say. You can’t be a rat. That’s the law of the jungle.”

Weinstein also described conditions inside the facility, renowned as America’s toughest jail, saying it was hostile and unsafe.

He added he believes it is dangerous for him to mix with other inmates and that he spends long periods alone in his cell.

“It’s too dangerous for me to be around anyone else. Other inmates get to go to the yard. But every time I’m out there, I feel like I’m under siege,” Weinstein said.

He also said he feared dying while in prison custody, adding: “It’s incredible to have the life that I had and the things that I did for society and not have the leniency to deal with me in a kinder way.”

He added: “Whatever they think I did bad in my life, I didn’t get the death penalty.”

In the interview, Harvey also said he had lost contact with members of his family.

Weinstein said he had attempted to reach out to two of his daughters but had not received responses.

He added: “They never respond. Their mother cut me off too. It’s been radio silence from them ever since the allegations started.”

Separate reporting by NBC News has stated Weinstein has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia.

According to the network’s report, he is receiving treatment while being held at Rikers Island.

The National Cancer Institute describes chronic myeloid leukaemia as a “type of cancer in the bone marrow that makes a large number of abnormal blood cells”.

Craig Rotherfeld, Harvey’s legal healthcare representative, declined to provide further details about the diagnosis. “Out of respect for Mr Weinstein’s privacy, we will offer no further comment,” Rotherfeld said.