Weinstein's former PA Sandeep Rehal says she was forced to work in a 'pervasive and severe sexually hostile' environment and had to cater to 'his demeaning and often abusive family members.'
- January 26, 2018
AceShowbiz -
Harvey Weinstein is sued by his former personal assistant for discrimination and harassment. Sandeep Rehal, who worked as Weinstein's personal assistant from 2013-2015, names the disgraced movie mogul, his brother Bob Weinstein and The Weinstein Company as defendants in the lawsuit filed Thursday, January 25 in New York federal court.
"For over two years Plaintiff Sandeep Rehal was forced to work in a pervasive and severe sexually hostile work environment at The Weinstein Company LLC and The Weinstein Company Holdings LLC, defined by endless offensive, degrading, and sexually harassing actions, statements, and touching at the hands of her boss, Harvey Weinstein," reads the filing.
In the documents, Rehal says, "Much of Ms. Rehal's work as an employee of TWC involved catering to Harvey Weinstein's sexual appetites and activities, and catering to his demeaning and often abusive family members. Ms. Rehal was required to be involved in and aware of the preparations for, and clean up after, Harvey Weinstein's extremely prolific sexual encounters."
Rehal claims that she had to keep a list of Weinstein's "girls" and set up an apartment close to his New York office for his sexual liaisons. "Every time Harvey Weinstein went to meet a woman at a hotel, in the office, or elsewhere, which occurred on average at least three times a week when he was in New York, Ms. Rehal was required as part of her job to provide Harvey Weinstein with a shot, which she placed in his jacket pocket or in a brown paper bag," the complaint details.
"Another 'task' Ms. Rehal was forced to do to aid Harvey Weinstein's sexual encounters was to clean up the semen on the couch in Harvey Weinstein's office. This happened on a regular basis, three or so times a week when Harvey Weinstein was in New York."
Rehal also states that Harvey gave email dictations naked "on an almost weekly basis" and would made her ride in the back of his chauffeured Lexus SUV and groped her. He allegedly made sexist comments to her in front of other TWC employees, "regularly referring to her as 'c**t' or 'p***y,' " states the filing.
"By February 2015, the hostile work environment created by Harvey Weinstein and condoned and enabled by TWC, Robert Weinstein, and the head of Human Resources Frank Gil, escalated to an emotional breaking point for Ms. Rehal," the complaint continues. "She had no choice but to leave the job she needed to support herself."
It adds, "As a result of the hostile work environment caused by the incessant sexual harassment, Ms. Rehal has suffered, and continues to suffer from severe emotional distress, anxiety, depression, humiliation, fear, anguish and loss of self-esteem." Rehal claims she's not the only person who experienced such behavior in the office.
In response to the lawsuit, Weinstein's spokeswoman says, "Mr. Weinstein categorically denies these claims and his lawyers will respond in the appropriate legal forum with evidence proving they are untrue."