Actress Minka Kelly has recounted a private meeting with Harvey Weinstein in which she nervously turned down his romantic advances and apologised for staying quiet about it and “protecting his behaviour.”
The actress said in a Friday post on Instagram that after meeting Weinstein at an industry party, he invited her to his hotel room. Uncomfortable with that, they instead met at a hotel restaurant, joined by an assistant who left shortly afterward.
Kelly says Weinstein suggested he’d give her “a lavish life filled with trips around the world on private planes” if she agreed to be his girlfriend. She declined and said she wanted to keep things professional and excused herself. He responded, she says, by saying “I trust you won’t tell anyone about this.”
Kelly, who had a role in Lee Daniels’ The Butler, which was produced by Weinstein’s company, said she spoke out to add her voice to those demanding such abuses end.
At least 30 women allege that Weinstein sexually harassed them or made unwanted advances. Weinstein has denied any nonconsensual sexual conduct with any women.
