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The mini-film studio headed by mogul Harvey Weinstein -- recently accused of rampant sexual misconduct -- will no longer be honored by Outfest.
Outfest, the nonproft organization that produces the Los Angeles LGBT film festival, will no longer be honoring the Weinstein Company at the Outfest Legacy Awards later this month.
The Weinstein Company was set to receive the Corporate Trailblazer Award for releasing inclusive fare like Carol, A Single Man, Transamerica, Philomena, The Imitation Game, Bully, and Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Clearly, the October 6New York Times report on Weinstein's years of alleged sexual harassment and initimidation of staffers and actresses required Outfest to take action, especially since Weinstein has not clearly denied the allegations. A statement from The Weinstein Company claims the studio made the initial decision to withdraw from the October 11 awards ceremony.
"Because we wholeheartedly support Outfest and its mission to preserve LGBTQ cinema, we have decided to withdraw from The Legacy Awards at this time," read the Weinstein Company statement, according to Buzzfeed. "We do not want to overshadow the extraordinary achievements of the other honorees." Actresses Rita Moreno and Laverne Cox will be honored at the event.
Outfest president Christopher Racster released a statement saying his organization was created as a response to the "discrimination and harassment" the LGBT community faces and has always stood for the "dignity of each human being."
Weinstein is on leave from this 12-year-old studio, though the company's board is currently weighing his termination; his advisor, attorney Lisa Bloom, just quit.
