Weinstein accuser testifies he screamed at her, 'This is how this industry works’
Two more Harvey Weinstein accusers took the stand in his rape trial Wednesday, with one witness recalling the disgraced producer telling her, "This is how this industry works."
Dawn Dunning, a once-aspiring actress, told jurors in Weinstein's trial Wednesday that he sexually assaulted her in 2004, putting his hand up her skirt without consent, The Wrap reports.
"I just kind of froze for a minute and then stood up," she testified. "He told me not to make a big deal about it, he apologized and said it wouldn't happen again."
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Dunning, who says she quit pursuing acting because of Weinstein, testified that he later offered her film roles in exchange for a threesome with his assistant, berating her when she declined.
"He started screaming at me," she testified. "He said, 'You'll never make it in this business. This is how this industry works.'"
Later, Tarale Wulff, also a once aspiring actress, testified that Weinstein masturbated in front of her at a restaurant and raped her at his New York apartment in 2005, per The Hollywood Reporter.
"He put himself inside me and raped me," Wulff testified. "It was a shock."
Weinstein, who been accused of sexual misconduct by more than 80 women, is facing charges in connection to an alleged 2006 sexual assault and alleged 2013 rape, but Dunning and Wulff both testified as "prior bad acts" witnesses as prosecutors seek to establish a pattern of behavior. Actress Annabella Sciorra, who has accused Weinstein of rape, previously testified as a "prior bad acts" witness, while former production assistant Mimi Haleyi, whose sexual assault allegation is central to the case, also testified earlier this week. Weinstein denies all allegations of nonconsensual sex acts and has pleaded not guilty.
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Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
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