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While the majority of figures in Hollywood are denying knowledge of sexual harassment by former movie executive Harvey Weinstein, clips of Weinstein jokes made years ago are resurfacing online, calling celebrities’ honesty into question.
Some stars are saying they’d heard rumours of Weinstein’s behaviour, but never actually witnessed anything themselves. Regardless, there was obviously some awareness of the situation if jokes were being made — and laughed at — years before these accusations were made public in the New York Times and the New Yorker.
One example of a joke making the rounds took place at the 2013 Oscar nominations ceremony. Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, along with Emma Stone, onstage announcing the nominees for Best Supporting Actress, cracked a joke about Weinstein. (You can watch in the video clip, above.)
“Congratulations,” quipped MacFarlane. “You five ladies no longer have to pretend you’re attracted to Harvey Weinstein.” Cue the laughs from the attending audience.
Another Weinstein reference was made on comedy 30 Rock, when Jane Krakowski’s character Jenna Maroney makes a reference to sleeping with Weinstein for gigs.
“I’m not afraid of anyone in show business,” states Krakowski. “I turned down intercourse with Harvey Weinstein on no less than three occasions… out of five.”