Filipino-Italian model among Harvey Weinstein’s victims

MANILA, Philippines – Following a New York Times report that Hollywood producer Harvey Weinsten sexually assaulted a number of women, more victims have been named.

While she did not share her story, Filipino-Italian model  Ambra Battilana Gutierrez was reported to be among the victims of the Hollywood mogul who was fired from his company on Sunday, on the heels of the shocking exposé.

The New Yorker reported that 4 women came forward with their stories, among them Gutierrez, a former Miss Italy finalist, who met Weinstein in 2015. (READ: Hollywood mogul Weinstein accused of rape)

According to the report, Gutierrez met Weinstein after her agency set up a meeting with him in Tribeca, New York. When she sat down with him to review her modeling portfolio, Weinstein stared at her breasts and asked if they were real.

Gutierrez later told officers of the New York Police Department (NYPD) Special Victims Division that he groped her breast and tried to put a hand up her skirt. He eventually backed off, gave her tickets to Finding Neverland, a musical he was producing, and told her he would meet her there that night.

With the help of the NYPD, Gutierrez would see Harvey again, this time wearing a wired device for them to hear and extract information.

An audio recording of Weinstein and Gutierrez’s conversation was released by the magazine. In the full recording, according to The New Yorker, Weinstein told Gutierrez about the actresses whose careers he’s helped. Weinstein pressed Gutierrez to go up to his hotel room while he showered and she eventually agreed to do so.

In the published recording, the two were in the hallway outside Weinstein’s room and Gutierrez tells Weinstein, “I don’t want to,” “I want to leave,” and “I want to go downstairs.”

She asked him why he groped her the day before. “Why yesterday you touch my breast?” He replied: “Oh, please, I’m sorry, just come on in, I’m used to that.”

When writer Ronan Farrow contacted Gutierrez about what happened, she said that she could not make any comment. It was reported that she signed an affidavit, stating that Weinstein’s actions never happened, in an exchange for a sum of money.

Since the news came out about Weinstein, a number of celebrities and politicians have come out ot express their outrage over the scandal. 

Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton said she was shocked about the news. while former US president Barack Obama and his wife Michelle said they were “disgusted.“

“I was shocked and appalled by the revelations about Harvey Weinstein,” Hillary said in a statement.  Weinstein was a staunch Democratic campaign fundraiser who backed Clinton in her presidential bid.

The Obamas said, “Any man who demeans and degrades women in such fashion needs to be condemned and held accountable, regardless of wealth or status.”

Actresses Meryl Streep and Judi Dench also spoke up and were horrified about the incidents. Meryl, a 3-time Oscar winner, said that she was  “appalled” by the “disgraceful” news and insisted “not everybody” knew about the allegations.

“I don’t believe that all the investigative reporters…would have neglected for decades to write about it,” she said. 

Since the scandal, Harvey issued a statement saying he respected all women and was hoping for a second chance while acknowledging he had “work to do to earn it.”

On Tuesday, October 11, Harvey’s wife, Marchesa designer Georgina Chapman, announced that she and her husband have separated.

In a statement sent to People, Georgina said: “My heart breaks for all the women who have suffered tremendous pain because of these unforgivable actions. I have chosen to leave my husband. Caring for my young children is my first priority and I ask the media for privacy at this time.”

The couple, who married in 2007, have two children. – with reports from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com