Mariska Hargitay, renowned for her role in Law & Order: SVU, has publicly denounced the recent decision to overturn Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction in New York. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Hargitay expressed her outrage and solidarity with survivors. “The reversal of Harvey Weinstein’s conviction comes as a painful and infuriating affront to survivors and advocates everywhere,” she wrote. “To every survivor in this case and every survivor who has to bear witness to this incorrigible miscarriage of justice, my heart is with you today, tomorrow, and forever.”
Weinstein, a once-powerful figure in Hollywood and co-founder of The Weinstein Company and Miramax, was accused by several high-profile actresses of sexual assault and rape, as detailed in an explosive New York Times report in October 2017. His subsequent arrest and conviction in February 2020 led to a 23-year prison sentence. In 2022, he received an additional 16-year sentence in Los Angeles.
However, the New York Court of Appeals recently overturned his conviction in a 4-3 opinion, citing that the trial judge “erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes.” Despite this, Weinstein will remain in prison due to his conviction in California, which remains unaffected.
Reflecting on her own traumatic experience, Hargitay revealed in an essay earlier this year that she was raped in her 30s by a man she considered a friend. “He grabbed me by the arms and held me down. I was terrified,” she shared. Motivated by her experience, Hargitay founded the Joyful Heart Foundation in 2004 to support survivors of sexual and domestic violence.
Hargitay’s statement serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing fight for justice and the importance of supporting survivors in their journey toward healing.