Convicted Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein is facing new health challenges amidst ongoing legal troubles. According to report by NBC News, Weinstein has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) – a type of bone marrow cancer. Currently confined in Rikers Island prison, New York, Weinstein is reportedly undergoing treatment for cancer, sources confirmed to NBC News and ABC News.
When Reuters and NBC tried to contact Weinstein’s legal healthcare representative Craig Rothfeld, for a comment, he declined the request and said, “Out of respect for Mr. Weinstein’s privacy, we will offer no further comment.”
The disgraced film producer has been dealing with poor health for a long time now. Last month, he was rushed to the hospital from the Rikers Island jail, where he underwent a surgery to alleviate the amount of fluids in his lungs and hearts. Before that, in the month of July, Weinstein was was hospitalized and tested positive for Covid-19 and double pneumonia. He has also been treated for diabetes, high blood pressure and spinal stenosis.
After the news reached people across the world, social media was flooded with harsh comments for Weinstein. People called it karma for all the wrong deeds he did during his life. “Looks like karma doesn’t miss.” Another wrote, “Too bad Harvey Weinstein’s failing health will not allow him a long life behind bars enjoying the prison cuisine and romantic friends.”
Other comments read, “Not saying that the negative energy he released into the world came back to him (because good people are also diagnosed with leukemia), but I’m not saying it hasn’t returned to him either…”
Some felt that this might hinder the ongoing legal battle and commented, “It’s treatable, especially with targeted therapies like tyrosine kinase inhibitors, but the prognosis can vary based on the stage at which it’s detected and how it responds to treatment. Weinstein’s health challenges add another layer of complexity to his ongoing legal issues.”
Harvey Weinstein’s Case
Harvey Weinstein was accused of rape in February 2020 and was found guilty. That case led to several other women coming out to share their stories of harassment and rape by the disgraced producer. Though he was serving a 23-year sentence in the cases, things took a turn after New York’s Court of Appeals found that the judge in the landmark trial prejudiced Weinstein with improper rulings. It was noted that the decision was based on statements/allegations of women who had not formally pressed charges.
Weinstein is now in prison awaiting a retrial while his lawyers are preparing for an appeal in 2022 rape case, in which he was sentenced to 16 years in prison.
