Jessica Mann Breaks Down in Shocking Testimony at Harvey Weinstein Retrial: “He Became a Monster”
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| Harvey Weinstein and Jessica Mann |
“I Felt Like I Was Being Used for Sex”: Emotional Testimony Reopens Scars
Mann testified that Weinstein assaulted her at the Doubletree Hotel in Midtown Manhattan on March 18, 2013 — a night seared into her memory. As she spoke, her voice cracked, and she repeatedly wiped away tears while jurors listened in stunned silence.
“He forced himself on me. I said no, but he didn’t care,” Mann said. “I felt like I was just a body — like I didn’t matter.”
Her account brought many in the courtroom to the edge of their seats as she described a chilling aftermath: finding a discarded medical needle in the trash, bearing a label with the word “necro.”
Who is Jessica Mann?Jessica Mann is a former aspiring actress and hairstylist who became one of the key accusers in the high-profile sexual assault cases against Harvey Weinstein. Originally from a small town in Washington state, Mann moved to Los Angeles in pursuit of an acting career, where she eventually crossed paths with Weinstein during the early 2010s. She has described herself as naive and ambitious at the time, vulnerable to Weinstein’s manipulation. Mann's testimony has been pivotal in both the original 2020 trial and the current retrial, as she offers one of the most detailed and emotionally charged accounts of alleged abuse. Her willingness to speak publicly, despite intense scrutiny and trauma, has made her a significant figure in the ongoing reckoning over sexual misconduct in Hollywood. |
The Needle, the Drug, and the Horror
“I Googled it,” Mann said. “It referred to a drug that causes an artificial erection in a ‘dead penis.’ It was horrifying.” The drug, often used to treat erectile dysfunction in extreme cases, raised alarming questions about Weinstein’s sexual health and the substances he may have used to perform.
“I panicked. I didn’t know what was in me — what I’d been exposed to.”
Dr. Jekyll, Mr. Hyde — and “The Monster Side”
Despite the alleged assault, Mann acknowledged she continued to see Weinstein. “He could be so kind — so validating. He made me feel like I had potential,” she said, describing the manipulation she endured.
But she was quick to contrast that with his violent, unpredictable side.
“The word ‘no’ flipped a switch in him,” she said. “He became someone else — I called it ‘The Monster side.’”
Mann likened the duality of his personality to a psychological trap — one that kept her silent for years.
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| Jessica Mann alleged that Harvey Weinstein raped her in a hotel room in 2013 |
Fear of Weinstein’s Power: “He Could Destroy Me”
Perhaps most chilling was Mann’s description of her fear of retaliation. “I believed if I spoke out, he could ruin me — or worse,” she testified. “He was friends with Bill Clinton. I imagined the Secret Service showing up at my door if I said anything.”
She described being overwhelmed by paranoia, distrust, and dread: “I didn’t feel safe. Not in Hollywood, not anywhere.”
Who is Harvey Weinstein?Harvey Weinstein is a former Hollywood film producer who co-founded Miramax and The Weinstein Company, two studios behind critically acclaimed films like Pulp Fiction, Shakespeare in Love, and The King’s Speech. For decades, he wielded enormous power in the entertainment industry, known for his aggressive deal-making, Oscar-winning track record, and influence over careers. However, in 2017, his reputation collapsed when dozens of women accused him of sexual harassment, assault, and rape — revelations that helped ignite the global #MeToo movement. Weinstein has since become a symbol of systemic abuse and unchecked power in Hollywood. In 2020, he was convicted in New York of third-degree rape and a criminal sexual act, receiving a 23-year prison sentence. He was later convicted in Los Angeles on additional charges. However, his New York conviction was overturned in 2024, leading to the ongoing retrial. Now 73, wheelchair-bound, and facing more years in prison if convicted again, Weinstein maintains his innocence. His case remains one of the most significant in modern legal and cultural history, representing a turning point in how society confronts sexual misconduct by powerful figures. |
Weinstein Watches in Silence
Seated in a wheelchair and wearing a disheveled charcoal suit, Harvey Weinstein, now 73, remained largely motionless as Mann recounted the alleged rape in graphic terms. He has pleaded not guilty and continues to maintain that all encounters were consensual.
His defense team did not respond to her claims during Monday’s session but is expected to cross-examine Mann later this week.
Not the First Time: Why This Retrial Matters
Mann first testified against Weinstein in 2020, leading to his conviction for third-degree rape. However, he was acquitted of first-degree rape, and the conviction was overturned in 2024 after an appeals court cited procedural errors.
This retrial, now underway in Manhattan Supreme Court, is seen as a critical moment in the broader #MeToo movement. Alongside Mann, other women — including former teen model Kaja Sokola and TV assistant Mimi Haley — have also taken the stand to accuse Weinstein of rape and sexual assault.
What’s at Stake
If convicted in this retrial, Weinstein could face up to 25 years in prison, adding to his separate 23-year sentence for rape and assault charges in Los Angeles.
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