When the Harvey Weinstein news came in, many of us didn’t know how to feel. The Cut staff talks our reaction to the news, what we hope the women who endured testifying feel now, and whether his conviction will set a precedent for other accused men
Photo: Scott Heins/Getty Images On Monday, Harvey Weinstein was convicted of two counts of rape and sexual assault. The Cut has followed the Weinstein allegations closely since fall 2017. Still, this was not an outcome we were expecting or were even fully prepared for — in fact, most of the conversations we’ve had were about how we would cover his inevitable acquittal. That says a lot about how we assume trials like these will play out, and not in a good way.
Jordan Larson, essays editor: It is a little weird not to feel completely let down, like maybe things have changed slightly.Callie Beusman: I was working from home, and I said to my sister, who I live with, “Weinstein was convicted of rape.” And she came into my room and made me repeat it three times. It simply did not compute. It felt like we were in a glitching situation.Melissa Dahl, deputy editor: It still does not compute for me, honestly.
Irin Carmon, senior correspondent: A lot of attorneys were saying he would be acquitted or there would be a hung jury. The trial was also competing with attention from so much other news — the election, coronavirus, Trump. Stella Bugbee: Wait, you mean the “good” news of the verdict doesn’t produce the same intensity as the bad news?Stella Bugbee: I fully expected him to be acquitted and am pleasantly surprised that he wasn’t. Although “pleasantly surprised” feels like a weird reaction too.
Stella Bugbee: What’s the name of that emotion? We need a name for it, Melissa. It’s the feeling of when the emotional roller coaster you’ve been on doesn’t have a big drop at the end but you also think, The drop might still be coming … in ways you can’t predict. Melissa Dahl: An ex who was a big sports guy said he never felt happy when his team won, just relief that they didn’t lose this time. This is making me think of that.Erica Schwiegershausen: I agree about relief. I think what I was trying to say before is that I don’t actually feel that emotional about it. I think in part because the testimonies were so horrifying, my response is more like, okay, thank God that my interpretation of reality was confirmed.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Weinstein convicted of sexual assault, rape, in milestone verdict for #MeToo movementFormer Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was convicted of sexual assault by a New York jury but acquitted on the most serious charges that could have sent him to prison for the rest of his life
Read more »
Hollywood Figures React To Harvey Weinstein Verdict: He’ll “Forever Be Known As A Convicted Serial Predator”Harvey Weinstein’s conviction on charges of rape in the third degree and criminal sexual acts in the first degree drew a quick reaction from entertainment industry figures on its meaning for …
Read more »
Harvey Weinstein convicted of rape, criminal sexual actThe jury, made up of seven men and five women, delivered the verdict on Monday, nearly a week after beginning deliberations.
Read more »
Harvey Weinstein Convicted on 2 Counts, Acquitted on More Serious ChargesHarvey Weinstein has been found guilty by a jury regarding his New York sexual assault case.
Read more »
Harvey Weinstein convicted on sex abuse charges by Manhattan jury; What does this mean for #MeToo?'This case is unusual in many ways. It's come to stand in for the MeToo movement, but I think that we ought to resist generalizing the verdict,' a former prosecutor said.
Read more »