Ian McEwan sparks controversy with 'seriously disturbing' Harvey Weinstein comments

'I am going to withhold judgments until I have heard the arguments in court'

(QUIQUE GARCIA/EPA/REX/Shutterstock)

British author Ian McEwan has sparked controversy for saying he will maintain a “degree of scepticism” regarding the allegations against Harvey Weinstein.

The writer has stated he will withhold judgement until Weinstein - whom he says seems like “a moral monster” - stands trial.

Disgraced film producer Weinstein has been charged with two counts of rape and one count of a criminal sexual act for alleged incidents involving two different women seven months after the New York Times article that led to numerous accusations of assault from some of Hollywood's biggest stars.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, McEwan discussed the Weinstein allegations, saying: “It seems a kind of circus to me - we don’t know what actually happened."

“It seems he is a moral monster who has had his comeuppance, but I always like to encourage in myself just a degree of scepticism once the whole mob is in full cry, so I am going to withhold judgments until I have heard the arguments in court.”

Weinstein, 66, handed himself into police in New York on Friday (25 May) where, after posting a £1m (£751m) cash bail, his lawyer revealed he plans to plead not guilty. He continues to deny all allegations of non-consensual sex.

Following the interview, several listeners expressed their disappointment with McEwan's views regarding the allegations against Weinstein which went on to spark the empowering MeToo and Time's Up movements to have swept across Hollywood since October 2017.

On Chesil Beach, starring Saoirse Ronan, is the latest McEwan novel to be adapted for the big screen. It's in cinemas now.

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