Liz Hurley on Weinstein: ‘Harvey never asked me to massage him’

Elizabeth Hurley has told Sky News that she has never heard of or witnessed any inappropriate behaviour by disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

The 52-year-old actress said she has "known Harvey for 22 years", and "can honestly say he certainly never asked me to massage him".

"I’ve heard about it," she said of Hollywood’s infamous "casting couch" problem.

"But not about Harvey as it happens, no," she added.

"Of course we’ve always heard that there are predatorial people in every business. Hollywood, of course – everywhere."

Weinstein has been fired from his own film company after a string of sexual allegations by women were published in The New York Times last week.

Actresses including Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan have come forward, accusing the producer of sexual harassment.

In a statement, Weinstein conceded causing "a lot of pain" and asked for "a second chance", blaming his actions on the workplace culture in the ’60s and ’70s.

But he and his lawyers have also criticised the New York Times report, vowing an aggressive response.

A-listers like Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Jessica Chastain, Mark Ruffalo and George Clooney have all come forward criticising Weinstein.

"The disgraceful news about Harvey Weinstein has appalled those of us whose work he championed, and those whose good and worthy causes he supported," said Streep, who has worked with the producer in several films.

"I was warned from the beginning. The stories were everywhere," tweeted Chastain.

"To deny that is to create an environment for it to happen again."

Clooney called Weinstein’s alleged actions "indefensible", while Kate Winslet issued a long statement saying: "The way Harvey Weinstein has treated these vulnerable, talented young women is not the way women should ever, ever deem to be acceptable or commonplace in any workplace."

But not everyone is on the same page.

On Sunday, fashion designer Donna Karan gave an interview to the Daily Mail defending Weinstein and accusing women in the industry of "asking for it".

"You look at everything all over the world today and how women are dressing and what they are asking by just presenting themselves the way they do," she said.

"What are they asking for? Trouble."

Hurley is the latest star to weigh in on the scandal involving the man behind such movies as Pulp Fiction, Shakespeare In Love and The King’s Speech.

The British star has lived in Hollywood for ten years, and has starred in over 30 film, but said she has personally "never encountered a casting couch situation".

"Ever. I don’t know if I look like someone who would give a karate chop if they … I don’t know – I never have," she said.

"Of course if he has done those things, it’s horrible," Hurley said of Weinstein.

"And I’m very sorry for those women."

Hurley added she didn’t think sexual harassment was "a Hollywood problem per se".

"It’s possibly a world problem," she said.

"It’s a bigger issue."

(c) Sky News 2017: Liz Hurley on Weinstein: ‘Harvey never asked me to massage him’