Disgraced former film producer Harvey Weinstein has voiced his support for actor-director Justin Baldoni, who is currently suing The New York Times for defamation. Weinstein, speaking from behind bars, claims that Baldoni’s legal battle mirrors his own experience with the outlet’s reporting in 2017.
“Watching Justin Baldoni take legal action… hit me hard,” Weinstein told TMZ on Wednesday, April 9. “It brought back everything I experienced when The Times reported on me in 2017.”
More: Glenn Close Opens Up About Working with Kim Kardashian
More: Cassie Ventura to testify under her own name at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ trial
Baldoni filed his lawsuit earlier this year, accusing The Times of working with his It Ends With Us co-star Blake Lively to damage his career and public image. Lively has filed her own complaint, alleging that Baldoni fostered a hostile work environment on set and intentionally tried to derail her professional trajectory.
Baldoni has denied all accusations, instead accusing the publication of spreading unverified claims before any formal legal action had been taken. He alleges that The Times “maliciously colluded with Lively and her cohort” to craft what he describes as a “false and defamatory hit piece.”
Weinstein, currently serving a 39-year sentence following convictions for rape and sexual assault, says he saw similar tactics used against him by The Times in 2017. That coverage was widely credited with igniting the #MeToo movement, exposing years of alleged abuse by Weinstein and others in Hollywood.
“They cherry-picked what fit their story and ignored critical context and facts that could have challenged the narrative,” Weinstein said, referring to his own reporting experience. While The New York Times has moved to dismiss Baldoni’s lawsuit, calling the actor’s claims “rife with inaccuracies,” the case has sparked renewed debate about the media’s role in high-profile controversies.
More: Drake is trying to woo Jennifer Lopez after Ben Affleck’s divorce
More: Katy Perry breaks cover after ex-boyfriend received abuse charges
Despite his current status as a convicted sexual predator, Weinstein expressed regret for not challenging The Times more aggressively when their initial reports surfaced. “I should have stood up and fought back then… That failure still haunts me,” he concluded.
The unlikely alignment between Baldoni and Weinstein has raised eyebrows, as Baldoni has long positioned himself as an advocate for respectful and equitable treatment of women, while Weinstein remains a symbol of Hollywood’s darkest abuses of power.
Nevertheless, the case against The Times continues to unfold, and with Weinstein now entering the conversation, the spotlight on Baldoni’s legal challenge is growing even brighter—albeit under the shadow of controversy.
READ NEXT:
- Biden calls out Trump over Social Security shakeup and slams staff cuts
- Thieves pull off movie style heist and vanish with millions in LA jewelry
- Kanye West Accuses Taylor Swift of Wild Affair, Now She’s Taking Legal Action
- JD Vance has trophy slip-up during Ohio State’s big moment
- Ciara Steals the Spotlight with Glam Look and Surprise New Music Drop