New York, Oct 13 (PTI) Tom Hanks and Ryan Gosling are thelatest Hollywood A-listers to join the brigade slamming HarveyWeinstein on multiple allegations of sexual misconduct againstthe media mogul.
In an interview with New York Times, the "Sully" actorwas asked why Hollywood did not choose to speak up untilrecently despite knowing about Weinstein's abusive behaviourfor over three decades.
To this Hanks, 61, responded saying it was not uncommonthat people in high places get away with crimes.
He also condemned the producer's statement justifying hisbehaviour that he grew up in the '60s and '70s'.
The Oscar-winning actor said, "Look, I don't want to ragon Harvey but so obviously something went down there. Youcan't buy, 'Oh, well, I grew up in the '60s and '70s and sotherefore. ...' I did, too. So I think it's like, well, whatdo you want from this position of power? I know all kinds ofpeople that just love hitting on, or making the lives ofunderlings some degree of miserable, because they can.
"Somebody great said this, either Winston Churchill,Immanuel Kant or Oprah: 'When you become rich and powerful,you become more of what you already are'... But I'm not, youknow, I'm not the first person to say Harvey's a bit of ana**. Poor Harvey - I'm not going to say poor Harvey, Jesus.
Isn't it kind of amazing that it took this long?"Hanks added he had never worked with Weinstein.
Ryan Gosling too denounced the producer saying that hewas "deeply disappointed" in himself for being "oblivious" toWeinstein's horrifying misconduct.
The "Blade Runner 2049" actor issued a statement onTwitter calling out Weinstein.
"I want to add my voice of support for the women who havehad the courage to speak out against Harvey Weinstein. Likemost people in Hollywood, I have worked with him and I'mdeeply disappointed in myself for being so oblivious to thesedevastating experiences of sexual harassment and abuse.
"He is emblematic of a systemic problem. Men should standwith women and work together until there is realaccountability and change."Gosling had collaborated with Weinstein in the 2010 drama"All Good Things".
Many high profile women such as Cara Delevingne, LeaSeydoux, Heather Graham, Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Joliehave alleged Weinstein of sexual harassment after the initialstory broke out.
Male stars who joined the growing chorus againstWeinstein, includes George Clooney and Mark Ruffalo, whileveteran female actors such as Meryl Streep, Glenn Close andJudi Dench called his misconduct inexcusable.
On October 10, The New Yorker published a detailed reporthighlighting rape allegations against the media mogul by threewomen, which followed the New York Times expose that outlinedyears of sexual harassment claims against Weinstein. PTI RDSRDS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.