Harvey Weinstein has undergone a three-hour surgery on his back to alleviate pain, just one day after it was claimed he’d reached a $25million (£18m) settlement in a civil suit with his accusers.
The disgraced former Hollywood mogul has been seen hobbling out of court with the aid of a frame, as well as being ‘held up’ by his team due to severe backpain, with claims he’s now gone under the knife.
According to TMZ, the 67-year-old had a bilateral laminectomy surgery – better known as decompression surgery – which enlarges the spinal canal to alleviate pressure on the cord and nerves.
He is now said to be recovering in a Manhattan hospital overnight, before being released on Friday, according to DailyMail.com.
Earlier this week Weinstein’s lead attorney slammed haters who suggested he was attempting to play the sympathy card by turning up to court with a walking frame, insisting he would be undergoing surgery.
‘I was dismayed to see all the press coverage incorrectly stating that Mr. Weinstein was trying to garner sympathy at his court appearance last week,’ Donna Rotunno said.
‘Mr Weinstein was in a serious car accident in August, which resulted in a concussion and has now necessitated the need for back surgery later this week.
‘He has been using a walker to assist him as the back pain has increased.
‘He wanted to leave the walker in the car, so it did not appear that was he looking for sympathy, as he is not.
‘The press surrounding his physical condition is mean spirited and false.’
Yesterday Weinstein reportedly reached a $25m settlement with several of his sexual misconduct accusers, ahead of his criminal trial.
The producer is said to have agreed to a tentative deal with more than 30 alleged victims from the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland. If approved, it could bring to an end most of the civil lawsuits against him, the New York Times reports.
A decision on the proposed settlement needs to be agreed by the courts and certain individuals involved. Once approved, the payments would reportedly be made by insurance companies handling the bankruptcy of the Weinstein Company.
Therefore it’s said that Weinstein wouldn’t personally pay the accusers himself.
According to a source, the settlement does not require Weinstein to admit any wrongdoing and he has always argued that any sexual encounters with the accusers were consensual.
This settlement is separate to the criminal trial which is due to start on 6 January 2020 with jury selection.
Weinstein is accused of raping a woman in a New York hotel room in 2013 and forcibly performing oral sex on another woman at his home in Manhattan in 2006.
Additionally, he is also charged with two counts of predatory sexual assault, one count of criminal sexual act in the first degree and one count each of first-degree rape and third-degree rape.
Weinstein has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
On Wednesday, a judge raised Weinstein’s bail from $1 million (£757,000) to $5 million (£3.7 million) claiming he had tampered with his electronic ankle bracelet on multiple occasions.
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