Juliette Binoche praises 'great producer' Harvey Weinstein: 'He has had enough'

Binoche says she never had problems with Weinstein, though she 'could see he had problems'

President of the International Jury Juliette Binoche attends the International Jury press conference during the 69th Berlinale International Film Festival Berlin at Grand Hyatt Hotel on 7 February, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. ((Photo by Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images))

Juliette Binoche has praised Harvey Weinstein, deeming him a “great producer”, while urging others to let “justice” decide the disgraced movie mogul’s fate.

The actor spoke on Thursday at the Berlin film festival, where she presides the jury.

Binoche, who starred in Chocolat and The English Patient (both distributed by Miramax Films, co-founded by Weinstein), said she never had problems with Weinstein, though she “could see he had problems”.

“I almost want to say peace to his mind and heart, that’s all,” the actor said according to Variety.

“I’m trying to put my feet in his shoes. He’s had enough, I think. A lot of people have expressed themselves. Now justice has to do its work.”

She added: “As a producer he was wonderful, most of the time. I think he was a great producer. That we shouldn’t forget, even though it’s been difficult for some directors and actors and especially actresses.”

In October 2017, The New Yorker published a damning exposé in which 13 women told journalist Ronan Farrow that Weinstein had sexually harassed or assaulted them between the Nineties and 2015.

The 66-year-old Weinstein is charged with raping a woman in 2013 and performing a forcible sex act on a different woman in 2006. He denies all allegations of nonconsensual sex.

Additional reporting by agencies.