America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 563 The Dust Settles

Steam rose from the white porcelain teapot as Martin poured a full cup of black tea for Leonardo, but only half a cup for Nicholson.

The latter brought milk and sugar cubes, added them to the teacup, and said while stirring, "The Leg Gang is too weak and can't be defeated. I haven't even made a move yet, and Martin alone has already beaten them to a pulp."

Leonardo looked at Nicholson and said, "Sure enough, the shamelessness of our Face Gang is a tradition."

Martin said, "You're the shameless ones, it has nothing to do with me."

Before the two bastards could speak, he changed the subject to Harvey: "Enjoying the gossip lately, huh?"

"That's interesting," Leonardo said deliberately. "See, I told you right, didn't I? Whether you've been dating for months or just one night, there's nothing wrong with treating a woman well, right?"

Martin gave him a thumbs up: "Leonardo who never crashes."

Leonardo's tail stood on end: "I'm all about loyalty and sincerity."

"You two, stop being disgusting." Nicholson took a sip of his black tea, felt it wasn't sweet enough, added another piece, and said, "Watching the drama is fun, but it doesn't involve much participation."

Martin was prepared: "There's one thing, Jack, that only you can do. Leo and I aren't capable of it."

Nicholson laughed. "What is it?"

Martin said, "Let the foot gang be completely dismantled in Hollywood!"

Leonardo asked, "It's going to be tough for Harvey to make a comeback, isn't it?"

"Turning things around is difficult, but not impossible." Martin wouldn't let his guard down: "So, we'll press on one issue after another, until we completely crush him!"

He gently tapped the white porcelain teacup: "Public opinion and industry associations can influence the judiciary."

Nicholson speculated, "You mean, you want authoritative Hollywood bodies to make a statement regarding the Harvey incident?"

Martin laughed and said, "Jack, you're one of those old white men."

Nicholson realized this was truly his job, and he had been waiting to stir things up. Now he could finally show off his skills. He drank the black tea in his cup: "I'm going to go talk to Warren Beatty and Sidney Ganis right now."

Leonardo asked, "What can I do?"

Martin said, "As the second-in-command of the Face Gang, you can just publicly distance yourself from Harvey."

Leonardo nodded: "The three of us will stand together through thick and thin, no question about it."

After seeing those two bastards off, Martin called Thomas again and asked, "What did Ali say?"

Thomas replied, "The WMA will issue a statement today."

Martin said, "Once the first one is established, the rest will naturally follow."

That same afternoon, WMA held a press conference, where Ali, representing the agency, announced that WMA would no longer work with any productions involving Harvey Weinstein.

The following day, brokerage firms such as CAA and UTA followed suit and issued similar statements.

On the same day, Leonardo's spokesperson issued a statement on his behalf, stating that Leonardo would not work on any projects involving Harvey Weinstein.

Julie and Aniston followed immediately.

Hollywood has once again distanced itself from Harvey.

"Old folks, we're all halfway to God's door. What's most important left in this world?"

At Warren Beatty's private party, Nicholson, facing a group of older white men his age, said, "Reputation! We've cherished our reputations for over a decade, why would we want to get involved with a hardened criminal?"

Beatty's wife, Annette Bening, said: "Harvey harassed me, and if I hadn't been smart, he might have succeeded."

"Hey, honey," Warren Beatty demanded, "why have I never heard you say that before?"

Annette Bening said, "Back then, I was just one of your many running buddies, and you were just one of my many running buddies. We weren't married yet."

Warren Beatty shrugged and said, "Playing with strong criminals just lowers our standards."

This Casanova claims to have had relationships with over 1000 women, but maintains he has never forced any of them.

Nicholson said, "We old guys came from the most absurd times, and even so, have we ever done anything as tasteless as Harvey?"

Among the white men present, even if some of them did it, they wouldn't admit it.

One by one, they stood righteously indignant: "I am ashamed to associate with criminals."

"These things are so tasteless."

"He severely lowered the standards of the Oscars and the Academy."

Soon, most people's attention fell on Sidney Ganis.

The current president of the academy knew that Harvey had angered many people. Among those present, many had daughters in their teens or twenties. They could accept their daughters having affairs for roles, but they could not accept being forcibly investigated!

Now, no one thinks Harvey doesn't have the guts to do that.

French actress Léa Seydoux, granddaughter of Pathé Pictures chairman; Jolie, daughter of Jon Voight; and Gwyneth Paltrow and Steven Spielberg's goddaughter, are all victims.

Sidney Ganis said, "I will convene the Academy Board of Trustees."

…………

In the quiet room, Harvey's eyes looked like they had two bags hanging underneath them, dark and thick.

The lawyer reported the latest developments: "Your wife, Georgina, has filed for divorce and has temporarily frozen several of your bank accounts and fixed assets on the grounds that the marital property is unclear..."

"Bitch!" Harvey felt a lump in his throat. What could hurt more than being betrayed by someone closest to you? He looked at his lawyer: "I can afford the legal fees!"

The lawyer was very ethical: "Harvey, I'm always on your side."

Harvey brought up the same old point again: "Then get me out of here right now."

The police station receives several reports every day, with new cases and evidence emerging daily. Moreover, the California Democratic Party is constantly putting pressure on the police, making it extremely difficult to obtain normal bail.

The lawyer said, "There's only one way now, Harvey, you have to fake being sick."

Harvey's face was contorted with grief as he said, "I didn't do any of those things. They came to me willingly. I asked them to come to my hotel room, and they came on their own. Isn't that a very clear indication?"

The lawyer pressed his hands down: "Harvey, calm down."

Bob and Georgina's betrayal finally pushed him to his breaking point, and Harvey exploded: "I forced them? What a joke! It was just a small matter of putting them in and taking them out!"

The lawyer didn't know what to say.

Harvey continued, "And they put them in willingly. Every time I took them out, they put them back in. My attitude was always the same: I just took them out!"

The lawyer stopped talking, letting Harvey vent his frustrations. Perhaps releasing all that pent-up anger would make him feel better.

The lawyer didn't come out until a full ten minutes later.

Harvey's face was flushed and he was agitated. As he was being led out by two PDs, he suddenly became short of breath, covered his head with one hand and his chest with the other, and slowly collapsed to the ground.

He was too heavy to fall down too quickly, fearing that his feigned illness would turn into a real one.

Just as Harvey was being taken to the hospital for a checkup, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Council held a press conference at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

Sidney Ganis, representing the Academy, announced: "The Academy Board of Trustees has voted to immediately revoke Harvey Weinstein's membership in the Academy!"

This is the first time in the nearly 100-year history of the film academy!

The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office later announced the establishment of a special office dedicated to the Harvey Weinstein case.

Not only in Los Angeles, but at least 20 other victims have also reported the incidents to the police in New York.

To date, the number of victims exposed in the Harvey Weinstein case has exceeded eighty.

The entire United States was shocked, and the world was watching.

The #MeToo movement, led by Julie and Aniston, traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with Erica and others, and applied to hold a large-scale related march.

At a regular White House press briefing, Obama specifically addressed this issue in response to a reporter's question, stating that the dignity of the law must be upheld and women's rights protected!

Recently, people have been gathering daily on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, holding up posters and banners demanding severe punishment for Harvey Weinstein.

Georgina Chapman announced that she has filed for divorce from Harvey Weinstein.

Before the media and the internet could publish similar comments of kicking someone when they're down, TMZ released a video of Harvey Weinstein physically assaulting Georgina.

Not only sexual assault, but also domestic violence!

All the pressure fell on Harvey.

Georgina's lawyers also took advantage of her misfortune, helping her to make more property claims.

By the end of November, the traditional Hollywood awards season had begun, but few people were paying attention to the various awards; everyone's attention was focused on this event.

Harvey has been granted temporary bail, but his movement is restricted and he is not allowed to leave Los Angeles.

On the day I left the hospital, media reporters and various social activists gathered, and the sound of insults was deafening.

Harvey's old face was sagging with fat. As he walked from the hospital to his car, he held onto a wheelchair for support, looking like he couldn't take care of himself, and slowly made his way to the car door.

He got into the car, looked at the driver with surprise, and asked the lawyer, "Where is my original driver?"

The lawyer could only tell him the truth: "He accepted a large sum of money from World News Weekly, supposedly to expose the secrets he'd kept working with you for over a decade."

Harvey clenched his fist and then relaxed it, realizing his trusted aide wasn't there either: "Don't tell me Lombardo went to leak information to the media too."

"No." The lawyer was exhausted. "Several girls produced evidence that Lombardo had used force. Lombardo reached a plea agreement with the LAPD and will become a witness against you."

Harvey's heart was pounding alarmingly. He quickly took out a medicine bottle, poured out two pills, and swallowed them.

In the past, I was surrounded by good people.

Now, all the good people have turned into bad people!

Harvey waited until his heartbeat calmed down before saying, "Scott, we've been friends for ten years. Tell me the truth, how serious is my situation right now?"

The lawyer remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, "It's very serious. All we see when we look up are enemies. Those who used to support you the most are now the ones who want you to die. Some people even asked me to pass on a message: don't say things you shouldn't say, and that you can retire peacefully after you get out."

Harvey understood what he meant: "Come out? How many years could I possibly stay?"

The lawyer said, "Optimistically, ten years."

Harvey didn't know who orchestrated all of this, trapping himself in a cage and seizing the opportunity to launch the fiercest offensive, causing his supporters to abandon him.

But there are some things he dares not say, because he fears they might lead to suicide.

(End of this chapter)