'Horrified': Hollywood stars outraged at overturning of Harvey Weinstein's sex crimes conviction

• Hollywood stars have expressed shock and outrage as Harvey Weinstein's conviction is overturned.
• New York's highest court on Thursday overturned Weinstein's 2020 conviction on sex crime charges and has ordered a new trial. 
• Ashley Judd, the first actress to come forward with allegations against Weinstein, wrote on Instagram: "This is unfair to survivors. We live in our truth. We know what happened."
  

Hollywood stars, including multiple actresses who have accused Harvey Weinstein of assault, reacted with shock and outrage Thursday after the former movie producer's New York sex crimes conviction was overturned.

In its 4-3 decision, the Court of Appeals found the trial judge erred in admitting the testimony of additional women who were allegedly abused by Weinstein but who were not named in the charges brought against him and ordered a new trial.

The ruling does not affect a separate 16-year rape sentence handed down in California - meaning the once-untouchable Hollywood heavyweight will remain behind bars.

"The accused has a right to be held to account only for the crime charged and, thus, allegations of prior bad acts may not be admitted against them for the sole purpose of establishing their propensity for criminality," Judge Jenny Rivera wrote in an opinion for the majority.

READ | Harvey Weinstein's conviction overturned by top New York court

Bombshell allegations broke against the Oscar-winning producer in 2017, launching the #MeToo movement that paved the way for women to fight back against sexual violence in the workplace.

Weinstein, 72, was convicted in a New York court in 2020 of the rape and sexual assault of ex-actress Jessica Mann in 2013, and of forcibly performing oral sex on former production assistant Mimi Haleyi in 2006. He was later sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Rosanna Arquette, Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino were among those to speak out as Weinstein's 2020 conviction for rape and sexual assault was reversed by the city's highest court on Thursday.

Weinstein - who is also serving a separate 16-year rape sentence handed down in California - has been ordered to face a new trial in New York.

Here are some key reactions to the overturning of one of the defining cases of the #MeToo movement:

"This is unfair to survivors. We live in our truth. We know what happened" - Ashley Judd, the first actress to come forward with allegations against Weinstein, via Instagram.

"Horrified!... Since when don't courts allow evidence of pattern of prior bad acts to be admitted? He's a prolific serial predator who raped/harmed 200+ women! Disgusted w/justice system skew towards predators, not victims" - Mira Sorvino, actress and Weinstein accuser, via social media platform X.

"Woke up to this news. I feel more than ever how important it is to keep breaking silence about sexual predators, and to keep supporting victims as they speak out" -- Katherine Kendall, actress and Weinstein accuser, via Instagram.

"This is an ongoing failure of the justice system - and the courts - to take survivors seriously and to protect our interests. (Manhattan District Attorney Alvin) Bragg ran for office in 2021 because his predecessor failed so many of us. We expect him to pursue Weinstein now" - Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, model and Weinstein accuser, via X.

"Let this be a reminder how rigged the American judicial system is against women and survivors of sexual violence, and what it takes to 'prove' your truth in this world" - Amber Tamblyn, actress, via Instagram.

"They will never overturn who we are. Blessings to all who gave their all #spirit #courage #unity" - Rose McGowan, actress and Weinstein accuser, via Instagram.

"(T)his is a stark reminder that the criminal justice system is not set up to serve actual justice and that anyone insisting that 'me too is over' or 'has gone too far' needs to look at the actual state of the world" - Sarah Ann Masse, actress and Weinstein accuser, via e-mail.

"WTF!" - Rosie Perez, actress, via X.