AndrewBlakeScottsdale, AZ – Disgraced Hollywood movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was backhanded– twice – while he was out to dinner on Tuesday night. The incident was recorded and posted on the TMZ website (video below).
The altercation took place on Jan. 9 when Weinstein was having dinner at the restaurant Elements.
According to TMZ, a man named Steve approached Weinstein and asked if he could take a photo of him.
Steve claimed that Weinstein got belligerent when he was asked to pose for the photo, but a restaurant manager told TMZ that Weinstein was “sweet” and politely declined Steve’s request.
Steve and Weinstein shook hands, and then both men sat down to have dinner, separately.
Later in the evening, as Weinstein was leaving at about 9 p.m., the situation escalated.
Steve admitted that he’d had “quite a bit to drink” when he asked a friend to take a video of him approaching Weinstein again.
The inebriated man walked up to Weinstein and slapped him lightly on the face twice.
The video showed Steve called Weinstein a “piece of s**t” a couple of times, and then said “you’re a piece of s**t, f**king with those women. Get the f**k out of here.”
Weinstein appeared to follow Steve’s instructions. He headed for the front door of the restaurant, and declined to call police.
More than 80 women, including multiple famous actresses, have accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct over a span of 40 years, according to the Los Angeles Times.
On Jan. 2, the newspaper reported that the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office said it was reviewing two sex crimes cases involving Weinstein that were investigated by Beverly Hills police detectives.
The LA District Attorney Office has not revealed any details about the cases against Weinstein.
The Los Angeles Times reported that at least 17 criminal investigations into Weinstein’s alleged actions have been opened in Los Angeles, London, and New York.
Weinstein has denied, through his lawyers, that his actions were criminal.
You can see the video of the incident below: