Washington, 24 March

Graydon Carter revealed new details of the Oscars' incident in his upcoming book 'When the Going Was Good', set to be released on 25 March. Carter served as Vanity Fair's editor-in-chief from 1992 to 2017, began hosting the magazine's famous Oscar party in 1994. The event soon became one of the most sought-after invitations in Hollywood.

According to Carter, Weinstein, who was once a regular at the high-profile event, earned the lifetime ban due to his repeated rude and abusive behavior towards staff. Carter explained that Weinstein would often show up to events with more guests than his invitation allowed and would intimidate event staff.

The tipping point came when the producer's behaviour crossed the acceptable line. "Weinstein was banned from everything because he was rude to the staff, and I didn't like that," Carter said. While many assumed that Weinstein's behavior may have been influenced by alcohol, Carter clarified that it was not from drinking but an intrinsic part of his character. "It wasn't from the drinking. It was just something inside him." Carter revealed in his book.

Carter recalled that after the death of Hollywood agent Swifty Lazar, who was famous for his Oscar parties, he took the reins and made the event a swanky gathering for the stars. However, as Carter explained, getting a spot at the event wasn't always easy. Editor Sara Marks, responsible for managing the guest list, often had to face bribes, threats, and even abuse from people desperate to get an invitation.

Despite the constant pressure over the guest list, Carter emphasised that Weinstein's ban was a direct result of his poor treatment of staff. This adds to the larger pattern of misconduct that would eventually lead to his dramatic fall from respect.

Since 2017, more than 80 women have accused Weinstein of sexual harassment, assault, or rape. These allegations sparked the #MeToo movement, with many women coming forward to share their stories. In 2020, Weinstein was convicted of one count of criminal sexual assault and one count of third-degree rape, leading to a 23-year prison sentence.

In 2022, he was found guilty of three additional charges in Los Angeles and was sentenced to 16 years. However, Weinstein's New York conviction was overturned in 2023 due to "serious errors" made by the judge. Weinstein is now serving his sentence at Rikers Island awaiting a retrial scheduled for 15 April.