Disney Shells Out $5.75M in Historic Settlement Over Weinstein Assault Claims

Julia Ormond's Shocking Payout: The Disney-Weinstein Scandal That Could Change Everything

In a bombshell development, British actress Julia Ormond has scored a stunning $5.75 million payout from Disney after alleging she was assaulted by convicted rapist and former film producer Harvey Weinstein. But this is just the tip of the iceberg – as experts predict that this settlement could pave the way for numerous other lawsuits against the media giant.

According to documents filed with a New York court, Disney settled with Ormond in March, just weeks after she accused them of "negligent supervision and retention" in hiring Weinstein despite knowing about his checkered past. But what exactly happened between Ormond and Weinstein? And why is this scandal rocking the entertainment industry?

The alleged assault occurred in 1995, when Ormond met with Weinstein to discuss a film project at her Manhattan apartment. At the time, she was at the height of her fame following her starring role in "Legends of the Fall," opposite Brad Pitt. In her lawsuit, Ormond claims that Weinstein – who had offered to be a "sperm donor" for her and pressured her to go to his hotel room on multiple occasions – forced himself on her, despite her protests.

"I was so intoxicated I couldn't even put my keys in the door," she alleged in her complaint. But what's shocking is that Ormond claims Weinstein was not just some creepy mogul – he had a reputation for being a serial harasser and abuser within Disney itself.

Ormond alleges that Disney's CEO at the time, Michael Eisner, knew about Weinstein's behavior but chose to do nothing. And it gets even juicier: Ormond's lawsuit claims that CAA (Creative Artists Agency) – her former agents – also failed to protect her from abuse and were complicit in covering up Weinstein's actions.

But here's the thing: Ormond is not just a random actress who got taken advantage of by a powerful producer. She's a high-profile star who has been open about her experiences with harassment and assault in the industry for years. And what she alleges is nothing short of a culture of silence and complicity that goes all the way to the top.

The Weinstein scandal, which broke in 2017, sparked a global movement against sex abuse and harassment in the entertainment industry. But despite the #MeToo movement's efforts, many questions remain unanswered – particularly about who knew what and when.

In recent months, several other women have come forward with allegations of abuse at the hands of Weinstein. And now, it seems that Disney is facing a reckoning for its role in enabling his behavior. As one insider put it: "This settlement could be just the tip of the iceberg – if even a fraction of the 80 women who accused Weinstein get settlements on par with Ormond, Disney could face a bill running into nine figures."

So what does this mean for Disney and the entertainment industry as a whole? Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.

The Players

• Julia Ormond: The British actress who scored a $5.75 million payout from Disney after alleging she was assaulted by Harvey Weinstein.
• Harvey Weinstein: The convicted rapist and former film producer who is currently serving a 23-year sentence.
• Michael Eisner: The former CEO of Disney, who allegedly knew about Weinstein's behavior but chose to do nothing.
• CAA (Creative Artists Agency): Ormond's former agents, who are also accused of failing to protect her from abuse.

The Questions

• What did Disney know and when?
• Who else was complicit in covering up Weinstein's actions?
• How will this scandal impact the entertainment industry as a whole?

This story is still developing – stay tuned for more updates on thescholarlynote.com.