Photo Credit: Getty Images
Former Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, 72, has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia while incarcerated at Rikers Island, marking another significant turn in his high-profile downfall. Multiple sources confirmed to NBC News that Weinstein is currently receiving treatment for this rare bone marrow cancer behind bars.
The diagnosis emerges during a turbulent period for Weinstein, who recently underwent emergency heart surgery in September 2024 to address severe fluid accumulation in his lungs and heart. His health struggles extend back to July when he battled COVID-19 and double pneumonia, according to medical records.
Craig Rothfeld, Weinstein's authorized legal healthcare representative in New York, expressed strong concerns about the public disclosure of these medical details. "It is both troubling and unacceptable that such private and confidential health matters have become a subject of public discourse," Rothfeld stated in an official release.
These health complications coincide with Weinstein's complex legal situation. His 2020 conviction, which resulted in a 23-year sentence, was overturned by New York's Court of Appeals earlier this year. The court determined that the trial judge had made prejudicial rulings, including allowing testimony about unrelated allegations. Despite this development, Weinstein remains imprisoned due to a separate 2022 Los Angeles conviction, where he received a 16-year sentence for rape charges.
Manhattan prosecutors are currently attempting to merge Weinstein's original 2020 sexual crimes case with a new criminal indictment. The latest charge alleges that Weinstein forcibly performed oral sex on a woman in a lower Manhattan hotel room between April 29 and May 6, 2006. He pleaded not guilty to this charge last month.
Weinstein's dramatic fall from grace began as the #MeToo movement gained momentum, with dozens of women, including prominent actresses, coming forward with accusations of sexual assault. Many alleged that he had used his influential position to derail the careers of those who rejected his advances, leading to his transformation from one of Hollywood's most powerful figures to a symbol of systemic abuse in the entertainment industry.
While proceedings continue, Weinstein's defense team has filed appeals against his Los Angeles conviction, while prosecutors prepare for a potential retrial in New York. The convergence of his deteriorating health and ongoing legal challenges adds another layer of complexity to one of Hollywood's most notorious cases.
