Rose McGowan Casts Doubt on Weinstein’s Prison Life
Rose McGowan voices suspicion over Harvey Weinstein’s incarceration, likening him to a mobster and questioning whether he’s truly behind bars. She reflects on Hollywood’s past reverence for the disgraced producer.
Rose McGowan, known for both her acting and activism, has openly questioned whether Harvey Weinstein is actually serving time in prison, or if he’s enjoying a rather more comfortable arrangement elsewhere. McGowan, who was among the earliest to speak out against Weinstein, has long been a prominent figure in the movement that encouraged women to share their experiences of misconduct within the film industry.
Weinstein, once a towering presence in Hollywood, faced allegations from over a hundred women. In 2020, he received a 23-year sentence in New York after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault. However, that conviction was overturned in April 2024 due to procedural missteps involving witness testimony, and a retrial is now in the works. Meanwhile, a separate case in Los Angeles led to a 16-year sentence for similar offences in 2022.
McGowan’s Scepticism and Hollywood’s Blind Eye
Appearing on Paul Brunson’s We Need To Talk podcast, McGowan did not hold back her doubts about whether Weinstein has ever truly been incarcerated. When pressed on the matter of justice, she remarked,
“I would love to see a picture of him in prison. I suspect he’s been in a mansion in Connecticut. That’s my theory.”
She went on,
“I don’t know if he’s ever spent a day in prison. Hollywood, baby. I don’t know, maybe.”
Her comments painted a picture of a man who, in her view, operated more like a street-level enforcer than a cinematic godfather.
“I think he was a thug. Not the Mafia boss of the cool kind with the suit, like Marlon Brando, Godfather type, but more like a street way.”
McGowan also reflected on the industry’s previous adulation of Weinstein, noting,
“They calculated that he was thanked more times than God at the Oscars. Harvey Weinstein was their god. This was far worse than the cult I grew up in.”
Personal Toll and the Shadow of Public Perception
During the interview, McGowan spoke candidly about the personal cost of her battle with Weinstein and the public’s shifting view of her. She admitted a desire to return to acting, but acknowledged the weight she’s carried for years.
“The majority of my life than not I have had this warthog from hell on my back and buying off public’s perception of me.”
For those seeking support or information regarding sexual harassment or assault, there are organisations in both the UK and US offering help and advice.