Kate Winslet Deliberately Didn’t Thank Harvey Weinstein In Her Oscars Acceptance Speech

While I haven’t done the exact calculations, I believe that the second-most said word at any film awards show (right after a fake-surprised “Wow!“) is the name Harvey Weinstein. Everyone from Gwyneth Paltrow to Jennifer Lawrence have thanked Harvey. But in 2009, Kate Winslet won her first Academy Award for The Reader, a film distributed by The Weinstein Company, and tradition states that she should have gushed over Harvey in her acceptance speech, but she didn’t. According to Kate, that was on purpose.

As a refresher, here’s Kate’s acceptance speech (it starts at the 6:40 mark).

After The New York Times published their exposé on Harvey Weinstein two weeks ago, many spoke up to condemn his behavior, including Kate Winslet. Kate applauded all the women coming forward with their stories and said that she heard the stories, but hoped they were just rumors.

Kate spoke with The Los Angeles Times on Sunday about leaving Harvey’s name out of her speech. Harvey’s behavior with Kate wasn’t the awful gross kind that a lot of people have been talking about lately (Kate says she somehow “dodged that bullet“). For her, it was more general asshole-ishness.

“That was deliberate. That was absolutely deliberate. I remember being told, ‘Make sure you thank Harvey if you win.’ And I remember turning around and saying, ‘No I won’t. No I won’t.’ And it was nothing to do with not being grateful. If people aren’t well-behaved, why would I thank him?

The fact that I’m never going to have to deal with Harvey Weinstein again as long as I live is one of the best things that’s ever happened and I’m sure the feeling is universal.”

Kate’s first film, Heavenly Creatures, was distributed by Miramax and that’s something that Harvey made sure to remind her of every chance he got. He was also allegedly a huge prick to her assistant.

“For my whole career, Harvey Weinstein, whenever I’ve bumped into him, he’d grab my arm and say, ‘Don’t forget who gave you your first movie.’ Like I owe him everything. Then later, with The Reader, same thing. ‘I’m gonna get you that Oscar nomination, I’m gonna get you a win, I’m gonna win for you.’

But that’s how he operated. He was bullying and nasty. Going on a business level, he was always very, very hard to deal with – he was rude. He used to call my female agent a [vulgar name for a woman] every time he spoke to her on the telephone.”

Kate adds that production on The Reader was a mess because of Harvey, and it was the last time she worked with him. That was on purpose too.

“I…stand up for myself and I don’t pander to what you’re supposed to do and what you’re not supposed to do. I won’t be pushed around or bullied by anyone. I was bullied as a child. Never again. Certainly not by Harvey Weinstein.”

That’s true, Kate doesn’t pander to what people think you’re supposed to do and not-do. Like proudly working with Woody Allen. But so help Woody if he does cross Kate; then he’s in big, big trouble. Kate doesn’t put up with any directly-related-to-her bullshit, buddy. “I happily ignored those allegations of sexual assault, but this time it’s personal!”

Pic: Wenn.com