Harvey Weinstein Turns Himself In to Authorities In N.Y.C.

How fitting that Harvey Weinstein, disgraced movie producer and alleged perpetrator of countless acts of sexual assault and harassment, has found himself doing his very own walk of shame. 

Weinstein was arrested on rape charges and surrendered himself to authorities in New York City on Friday morning following multiple investigations into claims of sexual misconduct carried out by the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and the NYPD.

Clad in a blue sweater and black suit jacket, Weinstein was shuffled past the hordes of paparazzi—a memorable scene in its parallels to the all too familiar scrutiny women have faced while walking past men on sidewalks around the world. 

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Many, including Asia Argento, who came forward with her own story about Weinstein’s actions, tweeted a video of the perp walk with the caption, “What took you so long Harvey?”

It was revealed Wednesday that months after the New York Times’ Pulitzer Prize-winning exposé revealed how Weinstein abused his power, preying on actresses with whom he had a professional relationship, the producer may also face federal charges. 

On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported he is being investigated by federal authorities for allegedly luring women across state lines in order to commit a sex crime. The federal investigation followed an early probe carried out in Manhattan regarding whether or not Weinstein had engaged in financial fraud regarding his fund-raising tactics with the amfAR Organization.

Weinstein’s lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, stood behind the statement which he has given since the story broke. “Mr. Weinstein has always maintained that he has never engaged in nonconsensual acts,” he told WSJ.

Despite more than 20 allegations of assault by women in London, Los Angeles and New York, no other criminal charges yet been filed. There are, however, ongoing civil lawsuits for sexual harassment, including a pending case brought forth by actress Ashley Judd. 

Justice has not officially been served—we’ll have to await the trial before that happens—but the dozens upon dozens of women who came forward with their stories of sexual harassment and assault (including Gwyneth Paltrow, Rose McGowan, Lupita Nyong’o, Cara Delevingne, Salma Hayek, Judd and countless others) at the hands of the disgraced movie producer will be able to breathe at least a little bit easier knowing that the 66-year-old will be through the ringer, if not by the jury than at the hands of an unsympathetic public, whose disgust and anger—which never fully dissipated, but definitely simmered—is bubbling up all over again.

But it’s not just Weinstein’s alleged victims that will be rebuilding their livelihoods as they recover from the fallout of his actions. Georgina Chapman, Weinstein’s estranged wife, is also preparing to rebuild her life, starting with her return to Marchesa earlier this year. 

Though she has the support of fashion’s reigning queen, Anna Wintour, (who blessed the brand’s return to the Met Gala earlier this month, where Scarlett Johansson stepped out in a burgundy gown by the fashion hosue) as well as CFDA President Diane von Furstenberg, some were wary about her complicity in Weinstein’s affairs.

That being said, it looks as though the rest of Hollywood will be wearing the brand on the red carpets again soon enough. Celeb stylsit Ilaria Urbinati (Donald Glover, Tom Hiddleston, Rami Malek) posted a message of support for the brand on Instagram Wednesday, which garnered compliments in the comment section from other Hollywood stylemakers including Samantha McMillen (Elle and Dakota Fanning) and Karla Welch (Lorde, Tracee Ellis Ross, Sarah Paulson).

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