Harvey Weinstein, the fall of the "god" of Hollywood, five years after #MeToo

He was a visionary film producer, Oscar maker, Democratic Party donor.

His new conviction in Los Angeles seals the descent into hell of Harvey Weinstein, who has become the incarnation of the sexual predator for the #MeToo movement.

SEE ALSO - #MeToo: producer Harvey Weinstein sentenced to 23 years in prison

Read alsoHarvey Weinstein sentenced to 23 years in prison

California jurors found him guilty on Monday of all the charges brought by one of his accusers and not guilty on those of a second woman.

They did not issue a verdict on the allegations made by the other two.

The sentences will be pronounced later, but he faces up to 24 years in prison, in addition to the 23 he is serving after his conviction in New York in 2020 for similar acts.

The beginning of the end

The accession to Hollywood elite of this son of a New York diamond dealer had taken years, he became an outcast in a few days.

On October 5, 2017, the

and the

published the testimonies of women, actresses or models for the most part, accusing the producer of having sexually assaulted them, then of having sometimes paid them to be silent.

Three weeks later, more than 80 women, including celebrities like Ashley Judd, Angelina Jolie, Salma Hayek or Léa Seydoux, had accused him of harassment or assault ranging from forced kisses to rape, in New York, Los Angeles, Cannes , Paris, London or Toronto, over more than three decades.

Read alsoThe Weinstein trial ends in confusion

Harvey Weinstein, who turned 68 on March 19, married twice and father of five, maintained that his relationships were all consensual, #MeToo was born: this movement exposed the alleged sexual abuse of hundreds of men to be able to.

The one who was the darling of the festivals of the 7th art is banned from the Academy of cinema which awards the Oscars.

The civil complaints against him are multiplying.

From “pioneer” to “example”

On May 25, 2018, he was charged in New York for only two assaults, one in 2006 and the other in 2013. Images of the handcuffed producer went around the world.

On probation until his trial, he kept a low profile for months.

Shortly before the start of the hearings in January, he gives a rare interview, which will cause an outcry.

“I have done more films made by women and about women than any producer (...) I was the first!

I was the pioneer!”

, he told the

.

He did not testify at his trial, but during his sentencing on Friday, he presented himself as a victim of the #MeToo movement.

I made more films directed by women and about women than any producer (...) I was the first!

I was the pioneer!

Harvey Weinstein at the "New York Post"

"I was the first example and now there are thousands of men charged

," he said.

.

He also pleaded with the judge that he

.

The "God" of Hollywood

Many of the accusations against Harvey Weinstein date from the 1990s or the beginning of the 2000s, the great years of Miramax, the studio he created in 1979 with his younger brother Bob (Mira for their mother Miriam, Max for their father).

After

, by Steven Soderbergh, critically acclaimed in 1989, Miramax produced Quentin Tarantino's first success,

(1994), then

(1996, nine Oscars) or

(1998, seven Oscars).

The Weinstein brothers sold Miramax to Disney in 1993, but worked there until 2005, when they launched The Weinstein Company, which would still produce great hits, such as Tarantino's

(2009),

(2010 ) or

(2011).

From 1990 to 2016, the producer, nicknamed

for his ferocious editing interventions, won the famous Hollywood statuettes 81 times.

During the Golden Globes ceremony in 2012, Meryl Streep called him, laughing, “God”.

Descent into hell

Today, if he inspires Hollywood, it is as an evil character: a thriller inspired by the scandal,

, was released at the end of January and at least another is in the making, produced by Brad Pitt.

At one time, his fortune was valued at between $240 million and $300 million, and he contributed generously to the campaigns of Democratic candidates, including Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

But he has sold five of his properties for two years, for 60 million dollars, according to the prosecution.

The Weinstein Company has disappeared: bankrupt, its assets have been bought by the Lantern investment fund.

Read alsoHarvey Weinstein file

His lawyers have negotiated a pre-agreement of 25 million dollars to settle most of the civil complaints filed against him, without him having to pay a penny, but his lawyers' fees are in the millions.

He must pay alimony for his ex-wives -- the second, stylist Georgina Chapman, left him after the scandal.

In total, nearly 90 women, including Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Rosanna Arquette, have accused Harvey Weinstein of harassment, sexual assault or rape.

But the statute of limitations has been exceeded in many of these cases, some dating back to 1977. The ex-producer is also charged in the United Kingdom with sexual assaults which date back to 1996.