Michele Mahone: 'Everyone knew' about Harvey Weinstein
After revealing earlier this week that late actor Patrick Swayze gave her a "forceful kiss" while she was working as a make-up artist, Michele Mahone has claimed "everyone" in Hollywood knew about Harvey Weinstein's behaviour towards women.
Appearing on Studio 10, the former Today and Wake Up reporter told the morning show panel the disgraced movie producer wasn't fired from his production company because of his actions, but rather because the public found out about them.
"Well, I want to make something very clear. Harvey Weinstein wasn't fired from his company because the board found out about it. He was fired from his company because we found out about it," the 45-year-old said on the program when asked why she decided to come forward with her own encounter.
"They had it written into his contract that if he, you know, was sexually inappropriate, that he would pay some money and it was fine. Everybody knew. So, his brother, who's coming on TV, you know, calling him out, makes me want to throw up in my mouth, because he full well knew.
"Everybody in Hollywood knew. But he could get you a movie, he could get you great movies so no-one said anything," she added.
Michele continued saying that while actresses and females employees are speaking out against Harvey, she claims they will remain suspiciously silent about other Hollywood heavyweights who may have been inappropriate towards them.
"But now that he is ruined, everybody's coming forward. But you'll notice - who else are they talking about? No-one. Because they can still get you jobs."
Michele recounted her experience with Patrick Swayze, who passed away in 2009, in a first-person piece for news.com.au, saying the Ghost actor had come into her place of employment for an interview and after speaking about his wife, Lisa Niemi, made an unwanted advance towards her.
"Patrick Swayze came in for an interview, and the whole time all he did was talk about how fantastic his wife was. At the end of his interview, I asked him if he wanted his make-up removed," she wrote in a first-person piece for the outlet.
"I went back to the room, and put my left hand up to lift his fringe off his face, while I removed his makeup with my right hand.
"He grabbed my waist and pulled me in and started kissing me. I was completely shocked. He wouldn’t let go. His hand moved behind my head, and it was a really forceful kiss," she added.
Trying to rebuff the advance, Michele goes on to say she tried to push Patrick off her before he finally relented, leaving her "shaken" by the interaction.
"I pushed his shoulder off me. It was like a drunk in the bar grabbing you out of nowhere. He said, 'Oh, this doesn’t mean we can’t work together,' and I didn’t know what to say."
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