Rose McGowan is once again speaking candidly about her experience with disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein—and this time, she’s questioning whether he’s actually serving the prison sentence the public believes he is.
During a recent appearance on the We Need to Talk podcast, McGowan reflected on the immense power Weinstein once held in Hollywood and expressed deep skepticism about his current incarceration. Despite Weinstein being sentenced to 16 years in prison in Los Angeles after a separate New York conviction was overturned in 2024, McGowan said she doesn’t believe he’s truly behind bars.
“I don’t think he’s in jail,” McGowan said. “I think he’s in a mansion. I don’t believe it. I don’t trust it.”
The actress, who was among the first women to publicly accuse Weinstein of sexual assault, framed her doubts within a broader critique of how power operates behind closed doors.
On the podcast, she described Hollywood as functioning like a cult—one ruled by fear, silence, and carefully maintained hierarchies. According to McGowan, Weinstein wasn’t just a powerful producer; he was treated as untouchable.
“They calculated that he was thanked more times than God at the Oscars,” she said, recalling how Weinstein was routinely praised during award speeches at the height of his influence. “He was their god.”
McGowan also revisited the aftermath of her assault, explaining how she felt shut out of the industry almost immediately after speaking up. She said she lost access to work, financial stability, and professional support, describing the fallout as swift and deliberate.
“I was 1,000% shut out of that world,” she said, adding that her bank account was wiped out and her career stalled.
Despite that, McGowan credited fans—particularly those she met at Comic-Con events—for helping her survive that period. She described those interactions as grounding and restorative, saying they reminded her she still mattered outside of Hollywood’s power structure.
Weinstein, who continues to face additional legal challenges, has consistently denied all allegations of nonconsensual sexual activity. Still, McGowan remains unconvinced that the system has truly held him accountable.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault or abuse, help is available. In the U.S., confidential support is offered through the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or via online chat at rainn.org.