Roxy Jacenko's dress sparks Weinstein debate
Roxy Jacenko's latest Instagram post has sparked a debate relating to film producer Harvey Weinstein, who's been accused of sexual harassment by a string of women in Hollywood.
On Saturday, 37-year-old PR queen Roxy shared a photo of herself wearing a pink Marchesa dress, and it didn't take long for followers to comment, noting that Weinstein's wife Georgina Chapman, who has announced she's leaving him, is co-founder of the label.
Hours earlier, actress Felicity Huffman had claimed she was "forced" to wear Marchesa gowns by Weinstein, or risk her career being ruined due to the producer's threats.
"Do you really think that’s a smart PR move? Sharing a picture of a Marchesa dress amid the Harvey Weinstein sexual assault scandal? A brand he forced young actresses to wear, with the threat of ending their careers if they did not comply? Not a great move, Roxy," one fan wrote underneath Roxy's photo on Saturday.
"Surprised that a mother, (of a daughter no less), could support a brand built off the back of a sexual predator like Harvey Weinstein. Who threatened young girls/women for sexual favours and bullied them to wear gowns to build this brand....... #dissapointed (sic)," another wrote.
Another follower shared a different point of view, writing: "How can people condemn Georgina Chapman and Marchesa when she is as much a victim of this situation as all the women Harvey Weinstein preyed upon".
Roxy then replied to that particular fan, penning: "@marnieperlstein unbelievable isn’t it. Who knew a gown for a friends forthcoming wedding could insult people so much, thank heavens I didn’t have a fur on my shoulders too. No frock made Weinstein be and do what he is or do what he did!".
Since movie mogul Weinstein was accused of being a sexual predator in a sensational exposé last week, more and more women have been coming forward with stories of their own.
This includes high-profile actresses such as Angelina Jolie , Gwyneth Paltrow and Heather Graham.
Earlier this week, Georgina, who shares two children with Weinstein, confirmed she was leaving him.
“My heart breaks for all the women who have suffered tremendous pain because of these unforgivable actions," Georgina said in a statement to People magazine.
"I have chosen to leave my husband. Caring for my young children is my first priority and I ask the media for privacy at this time”.
Meanwhile it's been reported that Weinstein allegedly forced A-list celebrities to wear his wife’s Marchesa designer dresses at red carpet events.
A publicist told the Hollywood Reporter that Sienna Miller’s people told her that Harvey “would be very upset if she didn't wear Marchesa” to the Golden Globes because she was sitting beside the mogul and his wife.
Miller had just starred in Weinstein’s 2006 film Factory Girl, which catapulted her into Hollywood stardom.
The same publicist also claims that Harvey told Desperate Housewives star Felicity Huffman that he would put a halt on the funding for the promotion of her 2005 film Transamerica if she didn’t show up to the Golden Globes in a sleek Marchesa number.
Page Six also claim that Georgina Chapman has always had to grapple with people both in the fashion and film industry who thought her label’s success all stemmed from Harvey’s position.
“Georgina always had a hard time pushing herself. For Harvey, promotion’s in his blood,” a source told the publication.
“[He] wasn’t exactly subtle about asking Miramax’s female stars to wear Marchesa on the red carpet. And if the studio chief of your movie, and potential movies, asked you to wear a certain designer, wouldn’t you want to accommodate him?”
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