Asia Argento, Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino react to Harvey Weinstein verdict: 'The beginning of justice'

Erin Donnelly
·Yahoo Life Senior Editor
Updated ·6 min read

On Monday, a Manhattan jury found Harvey Weinstein guilty on two of five possible counts: criminal sexual act in the first degree and rape in the third degree. With the producer — who was found not guilty of rape in the first degree or two counts of predatory sexual assault (two counts) — headed to jail until his March 11 sentencing, many of those who have accused him of harassment and sexual assault are sharing their reactions to the verdict.

Ashley Judd, who has accused Weinstein of unwanted sexual advances, thanked other survivors for speaking out. (Photo: Johannes EISELE / AFP via Getty Images)
Ashley Judd, who has accused Weinstein of unwanted sexual advances, thanked other survivors for speaking out. (Photo: Johannes EISELE / AFP via Getty Images)

Ashley Judd, who went public about rejecting Weinstein’s advances in Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey’s New York Times 2017 exposé, thanked the six women — Lauren Young, Miriam Haley, Dawn Dunning, Tarale Wulff and fellow actress Annabella Sciorra — who testified against him.

Asia Argento (pictured with fellow Weinstein accuser Rose McGowan in 2018) said she cried and celebrated after hearing the verdict. (Photo: ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)
Asia Argento (pictured with fellow Weinstein accuser Rose McGowan in 2018) said she cried and celebrated after hearing the verdict. (Photo: ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

Italian actress Asia Argento, who says Weinstein raped her at the Cannes Film Festival in the 1990s, posted a photo with model Samantha Panagrosso, who has also accused Weinstein of making unwanted sexual advances. “Harvey Weinstein is now a convicted rapist,” Argento wrote. “Two survivors cry and celebrate. Thank you God.”

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Rose McGowan, who also accused Weinstein of rape, issued a statement, likened the verdict to “taking out the trash.”

Rosanna Arquette, who says her career suffered after she rebuffed Weinstein in the ‘90s, called for reforms to make it “easier for people to report their rapes.” Fellow accuser Mira Sorvino, meanwhile, called it the “beginning of justice.” Actress Claire Forlani, who also spoke of her own experiences with Weinstein, called it “an important day.”

Rosie Perez, who testified that pal Sciorra had told her in 1993 about being raped by Weinstein, celebrated the verdict but added that she was “gutted for my dear friend,” as the jury did not convict on the count involving the Sopranos actress. Sciorra released her own statement later in the day.

Other notable reactions came from journalists Kantor and Ronan Farrow, who won Pulitzers, alongside Twohey, for reporting the Weinstein story, as well as actor Anthony Rapp. Rapp was the first to go public with allegations of sexual misconduct against Kevin Spacey. Time’s Up also issued a statement noting that “Harvey Weinstein will now forever be known as a convicted serial predator,” adding that “our fight is far from over” as the producer faces another trial in Los Angeles.

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