Convicted sex offender and former film producer Harvey Weinstein has responded to recent comments made by actress Julia Stiles regarding a pool table dance sequence added to her 2000 rom-com film, Down to You. Weinstein defended his decision to include the scene, stating that Stiles is a talented actress who naturally captivates audiences and has great dancing skills. He believed the scene enhanced the film’s appeal and worked well with Stiles’ chemistry with co-star Freddie Prinze Jr. Weinstein emphasized his intention as a filmmaker to elevate projects and mentioned casting Stiles in Silver Linings Playbook based on her standout performance. Stiles, in a podcast interview, expressed discomfort with the scene, feeling it was a cheap attempt to capitalize on trends in teen rom-coms at the time. She considered the film to be one of the worst ever made, attributing changes in its tone during production to Weinstein’s influence. Weinstein, who has faced numerous allegations of sexual misconduct, was previously convicted in a New York trial but had his conviction overturned with a retrial ordered.
Weinstein was convicted on three counts of rape and sexual assault in a 2022 Los Angeles trial in addition to his New York case. He is currently incarcerated at Rikers Island prison. For more details, you can refer to the original article on Entertainment Weekly.
