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A new lawsuit says Harvey Weinstein employed a female entourage of 'wing women' to help him meet young women, and teach his assistants how to smell and dress to his liking

Feb 13, 2018, 04:07 IST

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 08: Jay Z, Harvey Weinstein, and Gayle King speak onstage during TIME AND PUNISHMENT: A Town Hall Discussion with JAY Z and Harvey Weinstein on Spike TV at MTV Studios on March 8, 2017 in New York City.Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Spike

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  • A new lawsuit alleges Harvey Weinstein employed an "entourage" of "wing women" on the company's payroll to help him meet women "with whom he could attempt to engage in sexual relations."
  • These "wing women" would also allegedly teach Weinstein's female assistants how to dress and smell to his liking.


Since October, dozens of women have accused film producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment and assault, and a new lawsuit alleges he was assisted by a female entourage - "wing women" - who The Weinstein Company employed to help him meet women at parties, and who taught his assistants how to dress (and even smell) to his liking.

A lawsuit filed Sunday by New York state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman against The Weinstein Company claims there was a complicated apparatus to enable Weinstein's alleged sexual misconduct over decades, and that the company failed to appropriately reprimand its former CEO.

One big way the lawsuit alleges TWC enabled Weinstein's behavior was by employing women to accompany him to parties and help facilitate his actions, known as his "roster" or "wing women."

"While they had different titles, as a practical matter their primary responsibility included taking [Weinstein] to parties at which he could meet young women, and introducing him to young women seeking opportunities at [The Weinstein Company] with whom he could attempt to engage in sexual relations," the lawsuit says.

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The lawsuit claims these women were on payroll in the company's New York, Los Angeles, and London offices.

"One of the members of this entourage was flown from London to New York to teach HW's assistants how to dress and smell more attractive" to Weinstein, the lawsuit alleges.

Employees were often hesitant to challenge Weinstein, according to the lawsuit, out of fear of angering him.

"On certain occasions, company employees expressed concerns about his improper charges to company accounts, but would be dissuaded from following through by fear of angering him," the lawsuit states.

But in 2015, company management requested that the "roster" of women be taken off the payroll, according to the suit.

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"While [Weinstein's] use of corporate cards after this 2015 meeting remains under investigation, certain members of the 'roster' remained on staff after that date," the lawsuit says.

The Weinstein Company was not immediately available for comment.

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