Actress Rosanna Arquette has issued a forceful rebuttal to recent claims made by Harvey Weinstein during his first prison interview, in which the convicted producer alleged that she and other prominent actresses exaggerated their assault allegations.
In a statement provided on Thursday, March 12, Arquette, 66, unequivocally denied Weinstein's assertions. "I have never exaggerated my assault. Ever. My account of what happened has never changed," she stated. "A simple Google search makes this clear."
The statement came in response to an interview published Tuesday, March 10, in which Weinstein, 73, claimed that Arquette, along with actresses Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie, "just exaggerated" their allegations and "wanted to be part of the club" of sexual assault accusers during the #MeToo movement.
Arquette addressed Weinstein's characterization directly, referencing journalist Ronan Farrow's 2017 investigative reporting that substantiated claims of professional retaliation against her. "If, by saying 'exaggerated,' he means the retribution I endured, Ronan Farrow's investigation into those claims (made by others as well) substantiated the 'blackballing' with respect to me," she explained.
The actress rejected the notion that survivors formed any sort of collective for personal gain. "There was/is no 'club' to belong to as a Harvey Weinstein assault survivor. Being a survivor of assault or rape is not a club. I can't believe that has to be said," she stated.
Arquette's allegations against Weinstein date back to the 1990s, when she claimed to have attended a meeting about a script at his hotel room. According to her account, Weinstein answered the door in a bathrobe and attempted to place her hand on his penis, advances which she rejected.
In his prison interview, Weinstein suggested that some accusers fabricated claims for financial compensation, stating that multiple women received settlements ranging from $500,000 to $3 million. Arquette categorically denied receiving any such payments. "I never profited, nor was I ever compensated in any way, via lawsuit or settlement, by Harvey Weinstein or Disney or any other party with respect to my assault," she stated.
The actress also addressed her work on the 1994 film "Pulp Fiction," which Weinstein produced. She alleged that while she was paid scale wages and told the independent production could not afford more, she later learned that other cast members received back-end participation deals. "I was told at the time that scale was all the production could afford, as it was an independent film with a fairly unknown but 'hot and up-and-coming' director," she stated.
Weinstein was convicted of rape and sexual assault in New York in 2020, receiving a 23-year sentence. He received an additional 16 years following a Los Angeles conviction. His New York conviction was overturned on appeal in 2024, though he faces a retrial scheduled for later this year.
Despite the ongoing legal battles, Arquette expressed a nuanced perspective on justice and redemption. "I forgave Harvey Weinstein long ago. Not because he asked for it (a necessary first step in redemption, which he has failed to take), but because I didn't want to carry the resentment," she explained.
She also advocated for improved prison conditions, specifically addressing the Rikers Island complex where Weinstein is currently held. "Rikers Island prison complex is a horrific place. Its existence is a condemnation of our justice system, and I firmly believe it should be shut down," Arquette stated, adding that she wishes Weinstein success in transferring to a more humane facility.
However, Arquette firmly maintained that compassion for prison conditions does not equate to acceptance of claims of innocence. "When it comes to the events that led to Harvey Weinstein's convictions, plural, by juries of his peers, here are the facts: The assaults happened. The rapes happened," she stated.
She emphasized the rigorous journalistic and legal processes that preceded Weinstein's convictions. "The facts and evidence of these crimes were brought to courtrooms, where Harvey Weinstein was given the full benefits of due process and was represented by the best attorneys his ample wealth could provide. He was tried and convicted for these crimes."
Arquette concluded her statement by acknowledging the difficulty of responding to Weinstein's interview. "I wish I didn't have to write this, but the interview happened. And I felt that both the false accusations made against me, and the fog he attempts to weave by denying facts, called for a response."
The actress recently appeared in the independent film "Grapefruit" and continues to work in the entertainment industry.