--- title: Barack and Michelle Obama Condemn Harvey Weinstein description: Barack and Michelle Obama condemned major donor Harvey Weinstein following sexual harassment allegations canonical: https://time.com/4977132/barack-michelle-obama-harvey-weinstein-comment/ author: Alana Abramson article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-10-10T23:47:25.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:54:05.031Z article:section: Politics og:title: The Obamas Say They're 'Disgusted' by Allegations Against Donor Harvey Weinstein og:description: "We should celebrate the courage of women who have come forward" og:url: https://time.com/4977132/barack-michelle-obama-harvey-weinstein-comment/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5a2441dc9cbb4d8d/6988e1658fd2ee78b035935c/obama-weinstein.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3500 og:image:height: 1969 og:image:alt: Film producer Weinstein laughs at remarks directed at him by U.S. first lady Michelle Obama as she hosts a workshop at the White House for high school students about careers in film in Washington og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The Obamas Say They're 'Disgusted' by Allegations Against Donor Harvey Weinstein twitter:description: "We should celebrate the courage of women who have come forward" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt5a2441dc9cbb4d8d/6988e1658fd2ee78b035935c/obama-weinstein.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Barack and Michelle Obama Say They're 'Disgusted' by Allegations Against Donor Harvey Weinstein > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=8ea48b8d-f1f0-46e7-a8f6-b5d00ef11be7&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: An Actress Is Suing Harvey Weinstein Under a Sex Trafficking Statute [Watch (HLS stream): An Actress Is Suing Harvey Weinstein Under a Sex Trafficking Statute](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/zfrHpjdT.m3u8) (1:53)  _Published 2017-10-10. An Actress Is Suing Harvey Weinstein Under a Sex Trafficking Statute_  by [Alana Abramson](https://time.com/author/alana-abramson/)  ## Alana Abramson Oct 10, 2017 11:47 PM UTC  Film producer and studio executive Harvey Weinstein laughs at remarks directed at him by first lady Michelle Obama as she hosts a workshop at the White House for high school students about careers in film in Washington on Nov. 8, 2013. Film producer and studio executive Harvey Weinstein laughs at remarks directed at him by first lady Michelle Obama as she hosts a workshop at the White House for high school students about careers in film in Washington on Nov. 8, 2013. Kevin Lamarque—Reuters  by [Alana Abramson](https://time.com/author/alana-abramson/)  ## Alana Abramson Oct 10, 2017 11:47 PM UTC Five days after [the New York _Times_ report](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/05/us/harvey-weinstein-harassment-allegations.html?%5Fr=0) emerged about the decades of sexual harassment allegations levied against Harvey Weinstein, Barack and Michelle Obama released a statement condemning the behavior of the Hollywood mogul and major Democratic donor who had also employed their daughter. “Michelle and I have been disgusted by the recent reports about Harvey Weinstein. Any man who demeans and degrades women in such fashion needs to be condemned and held accountable, regardless of wealth or status,” the former President and First Lady said Tuesday. “We should celebrate the courage of women who have come forward to tell these painful stories. And we all need to build a culture – including by empowering our girls and teaching our boys decency and respect – so we can make such behavior less prevalent in the future.” [The _Times_ reported last Thursday](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/05/us/harvey-weinstein-harassment-allegations.html?%5Fr=0) that Weinstein had amassed three decades of sexual harassment allegations, and had reached at least eight settlements with women. More allegations followed on Tuesday: [_The New Yorker_ ](https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/from-aggressive-overtures-to-sexual-assault-harvey-weinsteins-accusers-tell-their-stories)reported that three women claimed Weinstein had raped them, and [the _Times_ ](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/10/us/gwyneth-paltrow-angelina-jolie-harvey-weinstein.html?smid=tw-share&%5Fr=2)reported more allegations of harassment, which included testimony from high-profile figures like Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie. A spokesperson denied “any allegations of non-consensual sex” in response to both reports. Weinstein, one of the Democratic party’s most high-profile and prominent donors and fundraisers, contributed more than $70,000 to Obama’s reelection campaign in 2012, according to FEC documents. He also employed the Obamas’ eldest daughter Malia last year when she took a gap year before entering Harvard University this fall. Weinstein was terminated from his company following the allegations. ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] [ MUSIC ] I know this has happened to many women and the fear and pain of sexual harassment that is released on one's mind, body and Soul that I'm trying to stop. 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