Harvey Weinstein’s health has taken another severe turn, according to recent reports. Weinstein, 72, who is already serving a 23-year sentence for sexual assault, has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, a type of slow-progressing bone marrow cancer that can elevate white blood cell levels. His legal healthcare representative, Craig Rothfeld, publicly denounced the speculation around Weinstein’s health, calling it an invasion of privacy and emphasizing the personal nature of such information. Rothfeld asserted that the details of Weinstein’s condition, which also include diabetes, high blood pressure, and other ailments, should remain private out of respect for his client.
Weinstein’s health struggles over the past year have been extensive. In addition to undergoing heart surgery and being hospitalised for COVID-19 and double pneumonia, he has faced multiple hospital visits for various chronic conditions, including spinal stenosis, heart issues, and lung fluid buildup. Rothfeld’s statement highlighted the toll these ailments have taken on Weinstein’s overall health and well-being.
Weinstein last appeared in court in September, transported in a wheelchair, where he pleaded not guilty to a new criminal charge stemming from a 2006 incident. His deteriorating health, coupled with the complexities of his legal situation, add a unique dimension to his pending retrial. Originally convicted in 2020, Weinstein’s guilty verdict was overturned in April 2024 by the New York Court of Appeals, which ruled that additional testimonies from accusers unfairly biased the original trial. Consequently, a retrial was initially scheduled for November 2024 but has been postponed to early 2025. Amid these ongoing legal battles, Weinstein has persistently denied all accusations of assault and rape, despite the substantial allegations against him during the #MeToo movement.
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As he navigates both legal and medical challenges, Weinstein’s situation remains complex and contentious. His team’s firm stance on privacy underscores the difficulties and ethical considerations surrounding the public’s right to information versus individual privacy—especially in cases involving highly publicised figures like Weinstein.