Zoe Brock, now 43, publicly breaks her silence on what happened in Cannes hotel room
A former Kiwi model has claimed she was asked for a massage and chased into a bathroom by a naked Hollywood movie mogul.
Speaking from a friend's Auckland home today, Christchurch-born model Zoe Brock, 43, has detailed her encounter with producer Harvey Weinstein 20 years ago.
Harvey Weinstein was sacked from The Weinstein Company today. Photo / AP
Weinstein, an Oscar-winning producer, was fired today in the fallout after facing a raft of sexual harassment allegations dating back decades. The scandal has seen his lawyer and several board members of his film company quit in recent days as allegations continue to surface against him.
In her latest blog post Brock outlined the "terrifying" experience in 1997, claiming she was tricked into a hotel room with the famous mogul.
Describing herself as a "naive" 23-year-old, Brock said she met Weinstein at the Cannes Film Festival.
Seated next to each other at a dinner, she told the Herald she had no idea who he was.
"He seemed like a nice guy, and I didn't feel threatened by him."
After spending the night at various parties, Brock said she ended up in a remote hotel suite with Weinstein after being separated from her friends, something that she now believes was intentional.
"We headed upstairs to Harvey's room and opened another bottle of champagne while we waited for the gang to arrive. But the gang never arrived," Brock wrote in her post.
The former model-turned-writer said she was drunk, young, and had no cellphone or cash to get home.
Actors Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd were both victims of Harvey Weinstein's sexual harassment over the years. Photo / AP
Weinstein left the hotel room and Brock claimed he re-emerged naked minutes later and asked if she would give him a massage. She felt panicked and told Weinstein she was uncomfortable and angry she had been tricked into this position.
"He asked if I would like a massage instead ... He pleaded with me to let him massage me and I let him put his hands on my shoulders while my mind raced."
Brock said she ran into the bathroom, locking the door, and Weinstein chased her.
When she came out, she found the film producer sitting on the bed "wearing a bathrobe crying".
Brock said Weinstein told her she didn't like him because he was fat.
Her allegations follow multiple sexual harassment complaints against movie mogul made public last week.
They include Hollywood actors Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan who both claim they were sexually harassed by Weinstein. A former Fox News anchor joined the growing fray last week, claiming Weinstein once trapped her in a restaurant hallway at a private event and masturbated in front of her until he ejaculated.
Last week Weinstein publicly apologised for his behaviour and said he came of age in the 60s and 70s when the rules about behaviour and workplaces was different.
Said Weinstein: "I appreciate the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologise for it. Though I'm trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go."
He said he was working with therapists and planning to take a leave of absence to "deal with this issue head on".
Brock felt the timing was right to share her story publicly, and was "filled with courage" writing it.
"I've always wanted to write it, but never really felt like anyone would take it seriously ... I don't feel scared to write it now."
Other allegations that have emerged against the producer had made Brock feel "validated and pleased".
"There's so much awful stuff going on in the world today, and this is just karma. It feels good to see the truth surface ... I would testify against him if need be. I'd love to face him."
Brock said she never reported the incident to police at the time as she felt like she didn't have a voice.
"I don't think the world in 1997 cared about what a little girl from New Zealand had to say."
Weinstein's representatives have been approached for comment.
Miramax US spokeswoman Marian Koltai-Levine told the Herald this afternoon: "We have no comments on behalf of Miramax."
On Friday The New York Times published the first bombshell story with allegations Weinstein sexually harassed female actresses and employees for decades.
