Solidarity has been in full bloom since news of Harvey Weinstein's abuse finally reached the mainstream.
#MeToo has drawn women together in an unprecedented way and in the latest stab at the patriarchy, Reuters reports that a majority female investor group, led by businesswoman Maria Contreras-Sweet, has bought the Harvey Weinstein company – taking it off the embittered hands of Weinstein and his brother, Bob.
Neither man will receive money from the $500 million sale of company assets, according to the Times, and despite taking on about $225m worth of debt, the women are setting up a $90 million victims' compensation fund.
“This next step represents the best possible pathway to support victims and protect employees,” Contreras-Sweet told Reuters.
She added that the new owners would “build a movie studio led by a board of directors made up of a majority of independent women” and “save about 150 jobs”.
In a separate letter to the company, Contreras-Sweet wrote: “As a long-time business leader and advocate for gender and racial equality, I have been profoundly affected by the recent revelations surrounding this company's leadership.
“You must care, as I do, about the women who have suffered the indignities inflicted upon them. I feel compelled to take action to provide them some remedy for what they endured.”
The board of The Weinstein Company said in a statement that they considered it to be a “positive outcome” considering the circumstances.
Weinstein, a sexual predator who used his power in the entertainment industry to assault and rape women, was fired from The Weinstein Company in October.
It seems particularly fitting that news of the sale came days before the 2018 Oscars, which air tonight.
Weinstein has reportedly been praised in more Oscars speeches than God and his films, including Shakespeare in Love and Pulp Fiction, have received more than 300 Oscar nominations and won 81.
Thankfully, he was expelled from the Board of Governors which means that he will no longer be able to vote for nominees or winners in the Oscars.
