Doctors have reportedly diagnosed Harvey Weinstein with chronic myeloid leukemia, which he is undergoing treatment for while in prison.
The disgraced movie mogul has suffered from a myriad of health issues in recent months, but this is the first time his cancer diagnosis has been revealed, first published by NBC News reported. Weinstein’s team released a short statement denying news of the diagnosis.
According to the paper, a joint statement from Judah Engelmayer, Weinstein’s attorney, and attorney Arthur Aidala said, “Craig Rosfeld, Weinstein’s New York legal medical representative, “We express our deep regret for the speculation surrounding his medical condition.” TMZ.
Harvey Weinstein (C) uses a walker as he leaves Manhattan Supreme Court after the third day of jury deliberations in his sex crimes trial in New York on February 20, 2020. – Disgraced movie mogul, 67, faces life in prison if a seven-man, five-woman jury in New York finds him guilty of various sexual misconduct charges (Photo courtesy of ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
American Cancer Society described chronic myeloid leukemia as “a type of cancer that develops in certain blood-forming cells of the bone marrow.”
It’s unclear how advanced Mr. Weinstein’s specific symptoms are.
Engelmayer and Aidala continued: “It is disturbing and unacceptable that such a personal and confidential health matter should be the subject of public discussion and speculation. Weinstein. Out of respect for his privacy, we will refrain from commenting further.”
According to NBC, Mr. Weinstein is currently incarcerated and undergoing treatment at Rikers Island, awaiting the start of his sexual assault trial in New York City.
Harvey Weinstein (C) is handed a walker as he leaves the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse in New York City on February 19, 2020. – Jurors in the high-profile sex crimes trial of former Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein held their first day of deliberations on February 18, 2020, without reaching a verdict in the case seen as a watershed moment for the #MeToo movement. Finished. The disgraced movie mogul, 67, could face life in prison if a seven-man, five-woman jury in New York finds him guilty of various sexual misconduct charges. . (Photo by JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images)
A Manhattan judge sentenced Weinstein to 23 years in prison for raping an aspiring actress and sexually assaulting a production assistant, but the convictions were overturned in April.
Weinstein was also found guilty of raping a woman at a Beverly Hills hotel in 2022, and a judge sentenced him to 16 years in prison. Mr. Weinstein has been forced to fight numerous civil lawsuits alleging rape and sexual assault.
According to TMZ, Weinstein suffered from diabetes, high blood pressure, spinal stenosis, and fluid in his heart and lungs during his time in prison.(Related: “Train crash, health aspect”: Harvey Weinstein rushed to hospital)
He underwent major heart surgery in September and then contracted COVID-19 and double pneumonia as his health continued to deteriorate.
