Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia while serving time in a New York prison. According to US media reports, this diagnosis comes just a month after he faced new sex crime charges.
The 72-year-old producer is currently undergoing treatment behind bars, but his legal healthcare representative, Craig Rothfeld, has opted to keep details of his health private.
‘Craig Rothfeld, Mr. Weinstein’s authorized legal healthcare representative in New York State, expresses deep concern over the speculation surrounding Mr. Weinstein’s medical condition,’ stated Weinstein’s spokesperson, Juda Engelmayer, in a statement to Variety.
‘It is troubling and unacceptable that such private and confidential health matters have become public fodder. Out of respect for Mr. Weinstein’s privacy, we will not provide any further comments,’ he added.
The former movie mogul made his latest appearance in a Manhattan court in September, marking his first outing after heart surgery. Arriving in a wheelchair, assisted by courthouse security guards, he pleaded not guilty to an additional criminal sex act charge, which had been leveled against him just a week earlier in New York.
Earlier this year, Weinstein's health took a serious turn when he was transferred from a New York City jail to a hospital in July, battling a slew of health issues including COVID-19 and pneumonia in both lungs.
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He also faced complications from diabetes, high blood pressure, spinal stenosis, and fluid on his heart and lungs. In September, he required emergency heart surgery, adding to his medical woes.
Weinstein's turbulent health journey isn't new; he tested positive for COVID-19 back in March 2020 while incarcerated. His health issues escalated just weeks after his initial sentencing, with complaints of chest pain and low blood pressure leading to hospital visits.
On the legal front, Weinstein, who has consistently denied any non-consensual encounters, was found guilty of rape in February 2020—a case that became a pivotal moment for the #MeToo movement.
However, the New York Court of Appeals overturned his conviction in April, citing unfair trial conditions due to improperly admitted testimony from uncharged accusers. He now awaits retrial while facing additional charges, including a first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape.
Weinstein, once a powerhouse producer behind hits like Django Unchained, Shakespeare in Love, and Good Will Hunting, now grapples with the consequences of his actions, both in health and in justice.
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