Days after news of Harvey Weinstein's alleged sexual harassment and misconduct came to light in Hollywood, the rumour mill went into overdrive. One of the threads which isn't about sexual harassment, but is still arguably about intimidation, regards Weinstein's wife's fashion brand Marchesa.
Last week, the Hollywood Reporter claimed that the 65-year-old producer pressured top actresses - including Sienna Miller and Felicity Huffman - into wearing his wife's designs on the red carpet, or risk their careers.
On Thursday night at Eva Longoria Foundation Gala, Huffman reportedly confirmed the claims and told TooFab: 'Yeah, it's true.'
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The publication reports the actress' comments were in response to rumours that Weinstein threatened to stop financially supporting the promotion of her 2005 Oscar-nominated film Transamerica, if she didn't wear Marchesa at red carpet events.
It comes as no surprise then that the star's 2006 Golden Globes dress was a Marchesa original.
However, this isn't the first time connections between Chapman's designs and Weinstein's influence in Hollywood have been made.
In 2007, a New York Times article commented on how many stylists, designers and influential editors were afraid to speak on record about Chapman's success with the label for 'for fear of offending Mr. Weinstein'.
In the article, Chapman commented on the criticism to say: 'There is a backlash.
'But whatever people say about Harvey to me, I want them to look at the dresses.'
In response, Weinstein added that anyone who suggests that actresses who choose Marchesa gowns for red carpet events do so to win his favour are 'jealous'.
'It takes away from the talent that Marchesa has exemplified,' he added.
However, the producer has previously admitted to using his influence in persuading actress Renée Zellweger to wear one of his wife's designs on the red carpet for the London premiere of Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason in 2004.
'Maybe I helped, but just very, very little, with Renée Zellweger,' Weinstein told Vogue in 2013. 'Within a year or two, it became actresses calling me on the phone asking if she was available for them,' he continued.
'So the tables completely turned. To the point where I didn't even want to answer the phone if I knew it was an actress.'
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
