Julia Ormond, an English actress known for her roles in films like Legends of the Fall and Sabrina, has sued Harvey Weinstein, along with some of the business partners that she says enabled him. In the lawsuit, Ormond states that Weinstein sexually assaulted her in 1995, and CAA agents told her to not say anything about it.
“After living for decades with the painful memories of my experiences at the hands of Harvey Weinstein, I am humbled and grateful to all those who have risked speaking out,” she said.
Ormond went on to explain why she is also suing three companies. "Their courage and the Adult Survivors Act has provided me a window of opportunity and way to shed light on how powerful people and institutions like my talent agents at CAA, Miramax, and Disney enabled and provided cover for Weinstein to assault me and countless others," she explained. "I seek a level of personal closure by holding them accountable to acknowledge their part and the depth of its harms and hope that all of our increased understanding will lead to further protections for all of us at work.”
Ormond alleges that the sexual assault happened after a business dinner in 1995. She says Weinstein kept giving her alcohol to the point that she could hardly open her door. Weinstein insisted discussing business in the apartment Ormond was staying in, rather than at dinner. While they were in the apartment, she couldn't find him for some time before she eventually found him in a bedroom, wearing nothing but his underwear.
More from LittleThings: Former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Accused Of Luring Young Men And Sexually Abusing Them
He then allegedly "persuaded Ormond to massage him," masturbated, "climbed on top of her" and "forced her to give him oral sex," according to the lawsuit. She then told her agents, Bryan Lourd and Kevin Huvane, about what happened, but they told her to not do anything about it.
“The men at CAA who represented Ormond knew about Weinstein. So too did Weinstein’s employers at Miramax and Disney. Brazenly, none of these prominent companies warned Ormond that Weinstein had a history of assaulting women because he was too important, too powerful, and made them too much money," the lawsuit claims.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, the National Sexual Assault Hotline provides confidential 24/7 support. Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) or chat online at RAINN.
