The growing list of women who claimed sexual misconduct by Weinstein grew exponentially in 2019, serving as the catalyst for the #metoo movement in Hollywood. Weinstein was convicted in early 2020 of raping a once-aspiring actress in a New York City hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on former TV and film production assistant Mimi Haleyi at his apartment in 2006. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison.
McGowen also draws attention to WInfrey's relationship with Russell Simmons, 63. It seems that Winfrey has signed up to executive produce a documentary about Simmons' history of alleged sexual misconduct. Winfrey eventually pulled out of the project as the mud thrown at the music executive continued to stick.
At the time she withdrew from the documentary Winfrey cited creative differences, saying:
"I have decided that I will no longer be executive producer on the untitled Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering documentary, and it will not air on Apple TV+.
"I want it to be known that I unequivocally believe and support the women. Their stories deserve to be told and heard. In my opinion, there is more work to be done on the film to illuminate the full scope of what the victims endured, and it has become clear that the filmmakers and I are not aligned in that creative vision."
McGowan is clearly not convinced and with Oprah's track record of asking questionable questions of vulnerable celebrities, she may have a point.
