Ben Affleck admits knowing about Harvey Weinstein

Actor-filmmaker Ben Affleck says he knew that Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, who is in the middle of a sexual misconduct scandal, was sleazy.

“I knew [Weinstein] was sleazy and kind of a bully, but unfortunately, that wasn’t that uncommon,” Affleck said on the Today show on Friday.

He explained that as a 24-year-old newcomer to Hollywood who “had never made a movie”, he did not understand how the business worked and what behaviour was deemed acceptable.

Affleck shared his first Academy Award win with actor Matt Damon for their Good Will Hunting screenplay.

In addition to his breakout film, Affleck collaborated with Weinstein on several other movies, including Shakespeare in Love, which starred his former girlfriend Gwyneth Paltrow — one of the many women who have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment.