In 2017, a number of sources confirmed that Malia Obama, the eldest daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama, had secured an internship with Harvey Weinstein, the former Hollywood producer being accused of s*xual harassment.
The 72-year-old was given a 23-year prison sentence after being found guilty in 2020 of first-degree criminal s*xual act and third-degree r*pe. However, in the case that served as a catalyst for the MeToo movement, New York’s highest court on Thursday overturned the Oscar-winning producer’s 2020 s*x crime conviction.
In light of this, social media took to X, bringing up a unique connection between the 44th President of the United States and Weinstein. Having said that, the news of Malia Obama interning for The Weinstein Company’s co-founder has caused quite an uproar among the public.
The Public Outcry: Malia Obama’s Involvement with Harvey Weinstein
The eldest daughter of former US President Barack Obama, Malia Obama, 25, furthered her entertainment industry experience in 2017 by interning at the Weinstein Company, an American motion picture and television studio.
She landed an internship with Harvey Weinstein, according to a Page Six report; however, the tabloid only mentioned that “sources buzzed about the gig before the inaugural weekend”, providing no additional information.
The report was later verified by sources close to Vanity Fair and The Hollywood Reporter. Malia Obama was not just fetching coffee at the New York City office; according to TMZ, she was “ensconced in the production/development department”, where her duties included “reading through scripts and deciding which ones move on to Weinstein brass”.
Well, her internship has been scrutinized more after Weinstein allegedly paid off “at least eight” women who accused him of s*xual harassment, according to a New York Times report. Her parents clearly supported her decision to work with Weinstein, which raises questions about sending their daughter to associate with such a questionable figure. Let us take a look at what the general public has to say via X:
Regardless of who her parents are, I hope she didn't succumb to the horrible abuse he has done to others
— Ankush sharma (@Aku_700) April 25, 2024
We all know they're all in the same "club"
— 🅹🅸🅼🅾🅼🅸🅲🆂™ (@jimomics) April 25, 2024
Nothing shocks me … this is quite disturbing.
— Sheri™ (@FFT1776) April 25, 2024
Poor girl! She and her sister were purchased to act as Barack and Mike's daughters, now this, which I was unaware of, but it does make sense.
— Carolina. (@realCarola2Hope) April 25, 2024
His conviction was just overturned and I've only seen a single outlet report on it so far.
— Bishop (@fbeeyeguy1) April 25, 2024
Malia's career path proves that with talent and perseverance, one can overcome any obstacles or past associations to find success on their own merits. Wishing her all the best in her creative pursuits.
— Wit Wisdom (@BestWitWisdom) April 25, 2024
Note that among the many known films that Weinstein has produced are Shakespeare in Love and Pulp Fiction. In addition, the Weinstein Company produced several acclaimed projects, including Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained and Tom Hooper’s The King’s Speech.
According to her IMDb page, Obama’s daughter made her television writing debut in Donald Glover’s thriller Swarm on Amazon Prime Video.
Barack Obama’s Reaction to Harvey Weinstein’s Case
With a 4-3 ruling on Thursday, the New York Court of Appeals overturned Weinstein’s 2020 r*pe conviction, finding that the trial had prejudiced him by permitting women to testify about unrelated claims. There will be, thus, a new trial for a former film producer.
Nonetheless, in 2017, Barack Obama made a statement regarding Weinstein, who is currently the focus of several exposés in which women claim he harassed and physically abused them for decades. The following was the statement made by the former US President (via Deadline):
“Michelle and I have been disgusted by the recent reports of Harvey Weinstein. Any man who demeans and degrades women in such fashion needs to be condemned and held accountable, regardless of wealth or status. We should celebrate the courage of women who have come forward to tell these painful stories.”
Meanwhile, his accusers denounced the decision to overturn his r*pe conviction in New York, calling it a “major step back” and “profoundly unjust”. In a statement, a group of Weinstein survivors known as the Silence Breakers claimed (via Variety):
“The news today is not only disheartening, but it’s profoundly unjust. But this ruling does not diminish the validity of our experiences or our truth; it’s merely a setback. The man found guilty continues to serve time in a California prison. When survivors everywhere broke their silence in 2017, the world changed.”
Besides, a former Oscar-winning producer’s New York conviction was overturned, but that did not release him from charges. Weinstein is presently being detained at Rome, New York’s Mohawk Correctional Facility. The Associated Press claims that although he was extradited to California to face charges there, he returned to New York last year.
