Weinstein became the most prominent figure of the #MeToo movement, which gained momentum in 2017 as women started to come forward with allegations against him.
Harvey Weinstein, the ex-movie mogul currently incarcerated, underwent an emergency medical procedure at a New York City hospital on Monday. This procedure was necessary to remove fluid from his heart and lungs after he experienced chest pains over the weekend, according to his representatives.
Weinstein, aged 72, was urgently taken to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan from Rikers Island jail complex late Sunday, as his publicist Juda Engelmayer and prison consultant Craig Rothfeld stated that he had “severe medical conditions.”
“We can confirm that Mr. Weinstein underwent a heart procedure and surgery today,” Engelmayer and Rothfeld reported. As of Monday afternoon, Weinstein was out of surgery and is currently in recovery.
Rothfeld identified the surgery as pericardiocentesis. He revealed that Weinstein had been feeling unwell for several weeks and his condition was deteriorating day by day.
Weinstein’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, mentioned that they requested immediate transfer of Weinstein to Bellevue after he complained of chest pains. Aidala explicitly stated in an email to the jail officials, “This guy is going to die on your watch if you don’t do something.”
