Jennifer Lawrence Pushed Back Against Rumors Linking Her to Harvey Weinstein

Trigger Warning: This article contains themes of sexual assault that some readers may find distressing.

Jennifer Lawrence revolted against her alleged relationship with the disgraced mogul, Harvey Weinstein in 2018. As we look back at the turmoil of 2018, it becomes evident that Lawrence's strong response to the persistent suspicions of a sexual relationship with Weinstein was more than just a denial; it was also a stand against the dangerous undercurrents that plagued the entertainment industry.

Allegations that Jennifer Lawrence had a sexual encounter with Harvey Weinstein before winning the Oscar came to light in 2018. These allegations were made in a lawsuit that was brought by an actress named Jane Doe against Harvey Weinstein. Doe claimed in the lawsuit that Weinstein had engaged in a number of sexual offenses against her, including forcing her to have oral sex with him, repeatedly masturbating in front of her, and threatening to ruin her career if she refused.

In the middle of all of these accusations, one particular charge stuck out: Weinstein allegedly boasted, “I slept with Jennifer Lawrence, and look where she is; she has just won an Oscar,” reported Variety. Both Lawrence and Weinstein immediately refuted this claim. In fact, he utilized Lawrence's reputation as a shield at the movement's height. In a 2018 attempt to have six women's racketeering charges dropped, his legal team cherry-picked quotes from Lawrence while taking them out of context to prove that he had been kind to her. 

Jennifer Lawrence's reaction to the accusations was firm and straightforward. The actress shared her condolences for Harvey Weinstein's abuse victims in a statement made available to the public, and she denounced his predatory behavior. Lawrence vehemently disputed the allegations made against her and strongly denied any association with Weinstein other than a professional one.

According to People, she said, “My heart breaks for all the women who were victimized by Harvey Weinstein. I have never had anything but a professional relationship with him. This is yet another example of the predatory tactics and lies that he engaged in to lure countless women.”

The case was branded as a calculated attempt to damage Weinstein's reputation and garner media attention by his representatives, who promptly refuted the accusations. The producer's team adamantly refuted the charges made in the case, claiming that there was "absolutely no truth" to them, as per Vulture. They stated that they intended to ask for the lawsuit to be dismissed right away.

The larger backdrop of Harvey Weinstein's alleged habit of abuse came to light as the legal dispute continued. Over 60 women have come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against Weinstein. 

In 2020, Weinstein was found guilty of first- and third-degree sexual assault as well as criminal sexual conduct and received a 23-year prison term in a state facility, per Your Tango. In a 2021 Vanity Fair Issue, Lawrence expressed, “Harvey’s victims were women that believed that he was going to help them. Fortunately, by the time I had even come across Harvey in my career, I was about to win an Academy Award. I was getting The Hunger Games. So I avoided that specific situation. Of course, I’m a woman in the professional world. So it’s not like I’ve gone my entire career with men being appropriate. But, yeah, that’s a perfect example of where getting power quickly did save me.”

If you are being subjected to sexual assault, or know of anyone who is, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673)