With shock and anger, Hollywood responds to the Harvey Weinstein sexual misconduct scandal

Barack Obama, left, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep and George Clooney have all issued statements about Harvey Weinstein's alleged misconduct.

By Tara Paniogue

Oct. 12, 2017 1:30 AM PT

Within a week, Hollywood titan Harvey Weinstein’s empire has seemingly crumbled to the ground. Fanned by damning investigations by the New York Times and the New Yorker, allegations that the producer and former Weinstein Co. executive has sexually harassed and assaulted multiple women for decades have piled up. It didn’t take long for several celebrities to weigh in on Weinstein’s downfall. Here’s a sampling of some of the responses, which The Times will update as they come in.

Ben Affleck

Judd Apatow

Patricia Arquette

Jeff Bridges

“Talk about facing your fear, he’s gotta face his demons now. I wish him the best of luck with that. He needs to lean in and really face those things.”

Mika Brzezinski

“There have been some really disturbing stories of sexual harassment that have come out over the past year or two, and I think it has uncovered something that still is very pervasive in corporate America, especially in the media culture. It is good that we are shining a light on this, but it’s frustrating that it’s taken so long for some people to address this.”

Hillary Clinton

Jessica Chastain

George Clooney

“Indefensible.That’s the only word you can start with. Harvey's admitted to it, and it's indefensible."

Benedict Cumberbatch

" … We need to collectively stand up and support victims of abuse such as the brave and inspiring women who have spoken out against him and say we hear you and believe you.”

Judi Dench

“Whilst there is no doubt that Harvey Weinstein has helped and championed my film career for the past 20 years, I was completely unaware of these offenses which are, of course, horrifying, and I offer my sympathy to those who have suffered, and wholehearted support to those who have spoken out.”

Lena Dunham

Paul Feig

Josh Gad

Eric Garcetti

"Look, it was disturbing to learn. It is disturbing the response. And it falls short of what I would expect of any leader of any industry, so I think what has happened to him is right and just."

Ryan Gosling

Bob Iger

“Harvey Weinstein’s reported behavior is abhorrent and unacceptable, and it has no place in our society.”

Mindy Kaling

Jeffrey Katzenberg

“ … There appear to be two Harvey Weinsteins … one that I have known well, appreciated and admired and another that I have not known at all.”

Michael Keaton

Jennifer Lawrence

"I worked with Harvey five years ago, and I did not experience any form of harassment personally, nor did I know about any of these allegations. This kind of abuse is inexcusable and absolutely upsetting."

Lindsay Lohan

(On Tuesday night Lindsay Lohan posted — and then quickly deleted — videos on Instagram supporting Weinstein.)

“I feel very bad for Harvey Weinstein right now. I don’t think it’s right what’s going on. I think Georgina needs to take a stand and be there for her husband.”

Rose McGowan

Gretchen Mol

"The shameless behavior of this powerful man found shameless co-conspirators in people hiding behind screen handles, who then tried to push their foulness onto women who are blameless."

Julianne Moore

Barack Obama

"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.”

Julia Roberts

“A corrupt, powerful man wields his influence to abuse and manipulate women. We’ve heard this infuriating, heartbreaking story countless times before. And now here we go again. I stand firm in the hope that we will finally come together as a society to stand up against this kind of predatory behavior, to help victims find their voices and their healing, and to stop it once and for all.”

Seth Rogen

Emmy Rossum

Mark Ruffalo

Kevin Smith

Meryl Streep

“The behavior is inexcusable, but the abuse of power familiar. Each brave voice that is raised, heard and credited by our watchdog media will ultimately change the game.”