Harvey Weinstein, the former Hollywood executive whose actions sparked the #MeToo movement, has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, according to two sources speaking with NBC News.
Mr. Weinstein is currently receiving treatment at a facility on Rikers Island in New York. Chronic myeloid leukemia is regarded as a rare type of bone marrow cancer, as noted by the Mayo Clinic.
In a statement issued to NBC News, Craig Rosfeld, Weinstein’s legal medical representative, remarked, “For the sake of Mr. Weinstein’s privacy, we will refrain from making further comments.”
This revelation about Weinstein’s health comes in the wake of various medical challenges he has been facing. Last month, he had to undergo emergency heart surgery to alleviate a significant build-up of fluid surrounding his lungs and heart.
Earlier, in July, he was hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19 and battling double pneumonia.
Mr. Weinstein’s deteriorating health coincides with ongoing legal issues, notably his conflict with prosecutors in Manhattan over attempts to merge recent sexual misconduct charges with those dating back to 2020. The prosecution is striving to consolidate these cases for trial.
Earlier this year, Weinstein’s conviction in New York was overturned while he was serving a 23-year prison sentence. The New York Court of Appeals determined that the judge in the original trial made biased rulings, including allowing a witness to testify about unrelated charges.
Despite this legal development, Weinstein remains incarcerated as he was convicted of rape in Los Angeles in 2022 and received a 16-year prison term. His legal team is currently appealing this verdict.
