Harvey Weinstein, once Hollywood’s kingmaker, now battles a devastating diagnosis of chronic myeloid leukemia behind bars. The disgraced 72-year-old film mogul, who is serving time for rape at Rikers Island, faces this new health crisis while continuing to fight a string of legal battles that could keep him incarcerated for the rest of his life.
Weinstein, whose name was synonymous with power and influence in the entertainment world, has spent much of his time in and out of hospitals since his imprisonment. This summer alone, he suffered from COVID-19, double pneumonia, and had dangerous fluid buildup around his heart and lungs. The latest blow, chronic leukemia, a rare type of bone marrow cancer, threatens to further derail his already fragile health. A representative for Weinstein has refused to comment on the diagnosis, but those close to him paint a grim picture.
His lawyer, Arthur Aidala, issued a dire warning to prison authorities, saying, “This guy is going to die on your watch if you don’t do something.” Weinstein was most recently rushed to Bellevue Hospital on Sunday due to what has been described as “severe medical conditions.” Since being convicted in 2020, he has endured a host of other ailments, including coronary artery disease, hypertension, and even sciatica, leaving him frequently wheelchair-bound.
Prison Health Woes
Weinstein’s health crisis couldn’t come at a worse time. The convicted rapist is set to appear in court for a retrial starting on November 12. The new trial follows a significant development in which an appeals court overturned his 2020 rape and sexual assault conviction. The court ruled that the testimony of several women, whose accusations were not directly related to the charges, unfairly influenced the jury.
Weinstein’s upcoming trial will revisit the original allegations that led to his downfall—the forcible sexual assault of a TV production assistant in 2006 and the rape of an aspiring actress in 2013. While Weinstein continues to deny all accusations, his health battles cast doubt on whether he will physically be able to endure the full extent of these legal proceedings.
Since his initial conviction, Weinstein has been hospitalized numerous times, most recently in September for surgery to remove fluid from his heart and lungs. Aidala has described his client as being in a “train wreck” state, with deteriorating vision, diabetes, and arthritis compounding his other conditions. “Harvey’s body is breaking down. He’s a shadow of the man he was,” a source close to Weinstein shared.
New Charges on the Horizon
Weinstein’s legal troubles, however, don’t end with his retrial. Prosecutors are reportedly building a case for additional charges based on allegations of three more sexual assaults—two from the mid-2000s and one in 2016. A grand jury is currently hearing evidence, and a new indictment could be announced soon, which would extend his sentence even further.
While his body fights to survive, Weinstein’s reputation is already in tatters. His conviction in 2020 and his 2022 sentencing in Los Angeles, where he was handed an additional 16 years for another rape conviction, have solidified his place as the face of Hollywood’s #MeToo reckoning. Weinstein, once feared and revered, now faces a future marked not by power but by the continuous unraveling of his legal and health battles.
