The 74-year-old Weinstein was sentenced over an allegation involving his former production assistant Miriam Haley, relating to an incident in 2006. The allegation was publicly reported in 2017, when numerous women came forward with accusations of sexual misconduct against the former producer.
Judge Curtis Farber reportedly criticized Weinstein before announcing the sentence. The case has attracted international attention because of its connection to the wider discussion about sexual harassment and abuse of power in the entertainment industry.
Weinstein was previously sentenced to 23 years in prison in New York in 2020 on rape and criminal sexual-act convictions. However, that conviction was overturned by an appeals court in 2024, leading to a retrial.
The Weinstein scandal played a major role in bringing renewed global attention to the #MeToo movement. The movement itself was founded in 2006 by activist Tarana Burke to support survivors of sexual violence, particularly women from marginalized communities. In 2017, following the revelations about Weinstein, the hashtag became a global phenomenon after actress Alyssa Milano encouraged people to share their experiences.
More than 80 women have publicly accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct. Among the prominent actresses who have spoken publicly about allegations against him are Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan.