Mariska Hargitay Reacts to Harvey Weinstein’s Overturned Rape Conviction

Mariska Hargitay Calls Harvey Weinsteins Overturned Rape Conviction Infuriating and Incorrigible

Mariska Hargitay, Harvey Weinstein Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images;DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images(2)

Mariska Hargitay criticized the decision to overturn Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction in New York State in 2020. The 60-year-old star of Law & Order: SVU, who portrays a detective investigating sex crimes on the show, bravely shared that she herself is a survivor of rape.

Mariska Hargitay expressed her disappointment and anger over the reversal of Harvey Weinstein's conviction in a heartfelt Instagram post on April 25. She described it as a painful blow to survivors and advocates worldwide, offering her support to all those affected by this unjust decision.

Weinstein, who is now 72 years old, was arrested in May 2018 for charges related to actress Lucia Evans and another unidentified woman. This followed an investigation into allegations of sexual assault and harassment made by multiple women in 2017. Despite being found guilty of rape in February 2020, the Miramax cofounder was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Weinstein's legal team filed an appeal to the verdict as he reported to prison. On Thursday, the New York Court of Appeals overturned the ruling 4-3.

The decision was made following claims from Weinstein's attorney, Arthur Aidala, who argued that his client did not receive a fair trial. Aidala stated that trial judge James Burke's decisions resulted in Weinstein's character being the focus of the trial rather than the allegations he was facing.

Hargitay expressed her disappointment over the decision to overturn the ruling after sharing her own experience of being sexually assaulted in her thirties. In an essay published on January 10 in People, she revealed, "A man raped me in my thirties. It wasn't sexual at all. It was dominance and control - overpowering control."

Hargitay shared that she was raped by a friend.

She tried various ways to stop the assault. She attempted to use humor, charm, set boundaries, reason, and say no. However, the friend grabbed her arms and restrained her, causing fear. She did not want the situation to turn violent. She later realized it was already a form of sexual violence, but she was afraid of physical violence. This led her to enter a freeze mode, a common response to trauma when there is no way to escape. She felt disconnected from her body.

Hargitay has been supporting sexual assault victims for twenty years. In 2004, she established the Joyful Heart foundation with a goal to change how society deals with sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, help survivors recover, and put an end to these crimes permanently.

During Hargitay's protest against Weinstein's conviction being overturned, the lawyer representing eight of Weinstein's victims also criticized the court's decision.

Douglas H. Wigdor expressed disappointment over today's decision, stating that it is a setback in holding those accountable for sexual violence. He emphasized that courts often consider evidence of uncharged acts to help juries understand the defendant's intent, modus operandi, or scheme. It is unfortunate that the jury was instructed on the relevance of this testimony, only for the verdict to be overturned, leading to the victims having to endure another trial.

Despite the decision being reversed in New York, Weinstein is still in prison in California facing separate charges.

In July 2021, he was sent to Los Angeles where he was convicted of three out of seven charges in December 2022. He received a 16-year jail term, which will be served separately from his sentence in New York.

The ruling in California will remain valid regardless of the outcome of the case in New York.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse, reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). You can speak with a trained staff member who will offer confidential and non-judgmental support, as well as connect you with local resources to help in your healing and recovery.

Editor's P/S:

The reversal of Harvey Weinstein's rape conviction has sparked outrage and disappointment from survivors and advocates, including actress Mariska Hargitay. Hargitay, who