Watch: Candace Owens Shocks with Weinstein Interview, Defending a Rapist?
Candace Owens, a vocal #MeToo critic, interviewed Harvey Weinstein in prison, where he discussed his retrial, harsh conditions at Rikers Island, and his focus on family, drawing backlash for her association with the convicted sex offender. The interview highlights ongoing tensions around Weinstein’s legal battles and Owens’s controversial stances on social issues.
Far-right commentator Candace Owens, known for her criticism of the #MeToo movement and controversial stances on antisemitism, conducted a rare interview with disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein from his Rikers Island cell. The 20-minute videoconference discussion, Weinstein’s first on-camera interview in eight years, covered his ongoing New York retrial, prison conditions, and future aspirations. The interview has drawn sharp criticism due to Owens’s history of dismissing #MeToo allegations and her refusal to unequivocally condemn violence against Jews, further fuelling accusations of aligning with problematic figures like Weinstein, who was convicted of sex crimes in both New York and California.
Weinstein, whose 2020 New York conviction was overturned in April 2024 due to judicial errors, described his June 2025 retrial as flawed, stating, “We have the right to bring this situation back up, and hopefully the court will listen, but I’m not sure that they will.” His legal team is interviewing jurors after a mixed verdict convicted him of one count of criminal sexual act against Miriam Haley, acquitted him of charges by Kaja Sokola, and failed to reach a decision on Jessica Mann’s rape allegation. Regarding his appeal, Weinstein said, “I’m not optimistic and I’m not pessimistic. I’m somewhere in the middle. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
He painted a grim picture of Rikers, saying, “This is a very rough place. This is an unhygienic place. You don’t get your shirts. You don’t get your socks. You don’t get your underwear. The food is rancid. I mean it is really awful.” Despite his circumstances, Weinstein relies on “friends I grew up with,” not Hollywood allies, for support, adding, “I have the strength of my friends.” Family remains his priority: “My kids are number one now, my family is number one, because they’re the important thing. I’d move as close to my kids as humanly possible.” He shares five children with ex-wives Eve Chilton and Georgina Chapman.
Weinstein admitted to past infidelity but denied criminal acts, stating, “I believe women should be heard, but I’m wrongfully convicted. I made mistakes. I hurt my family. I cheated on my wife, and that was a terrible mistake. But I did not commit these crimes.” He also claimed to assist industry friends, saying, “I have friends who are still in the industry who slip me their screenplays and ask me for notes.” His California attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, emphasized, “We will continue to fight till the bitter end,” as Weinstein faces a 16-year sentence in California.
Social media on X condemned Owens’s platforming of Weinstein, with one user stating, “Candace Owens giving a rapist a platform while denying #MeToo is disgusting.” The interview, coinciding with Weinstein’s retrial, has reignited debates about #MeToo’s legacy and Owens’s controversial alliances, including her defense of Justin Baldoni and praise from Joe Rogan.