Harvey Weinstein Sues Brother Bob Over $45 Million Fraud Claims

NEW YORK, NY — Disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein has filed a lawsuit against his brother Bob Weinstein, alleging fraud related to a $45 million loan he guaranteed in 2016 while both were leading The Weinstein Company. The lawsuit, which seeks compensatory and punitive damages, claims that Bob and other executives misappropriated the loaned funds for personal gain rather than for the company’s benefit.

Currently incarcerated at Rikers Island, Harvey Weinstein contends that under the pretense of necessity, he was misled into personally guaranteeing the loan from AI International Holdings. In court documents obtained by Deadline, he accuses Bob and other executives of diverting substantial amounts of the loan for personal expenses, including a reported $6 million for Bob and $5 million in bonuses for another executive, David Glasser.

“It was shocking to discover the fraudulent transactions that went on after I left the company. I now believe that a number of these executives played a big part in my demise,” Harvey stated in his legal filing.

The Weinstein brothers, who co-founded Miramax Films in 1979 and later established The Weinstein Company in 2005, have a tumultuous relationship, particularly following the emergence of multiple sexual misconduct allegations against Harvey in late 2017, which sparked the #MeToo movement. The fallout resulted in Harvey’s ousting from the company and the eventual bankruptcy of The Weinstein Company in 2018.

“Harvey was deceived by those closest to him, and secured a $45 million dollar loan under the pretense of saving The Weinstein Company,” stated Weinstein’s attorney, highlighting the allegations that the company’s executives enriched themselves while leaving Harvey responsible for the debts.

Bob Weinstein has categorically denied the allegations made by his brother, labeling them as “entirely without merit” and asserting that Harvey is attempting to deflect blame for the collapse of The Weinstein Company. According to Bob, the internal strife and volatility in their personal relationship had significantly deteriorated long before Harvey’s fall from grace.

The lawsuit marks another chapter in a heated family feud that highlights the culmination of years of contention between the brothers, who once were celebrated as giants of the film industry. Their business successes have often been overshadowed by personal disputes and scandals.

As Harvey Weinstein awaits a retrial set to begin on April 15 for his overturned 2020 rape conviction, this new legal battle adds another layer to his troubled legacy. His claims against his brother could further complicate the already complicated narrative of their professional and familial ties.