Judi Dench Sparks Online Rage Over Her Harvey Weinstein 'Forgiveness' Plea

Judi Dench has struck a nerve with her recent remarks about "forgiveness."

The retired English actress shared her thoughts about Harvey Weinstein's incarceration and what it may mean for the victims, and she is earning several knocks for it.

Judi Dench had previously claimed to be ignorant of any of the disgraced producer's alleged grave sexual offences.

The legendary actress, during an interview, revisited the producer's case and stressed that he had done his time and paid duly for the crimes he committed.

"I imagine he's done his time. I don't know, to me it's personal – forgiveness," the actress stated, while adding that he feels empathy for his victims. Dench noted in the Radio Times interview that she knew the producer on a personal and professional level, and their interaction was void of all these intricacies.

She also spoke about her friendship with Kevin Spacey, who was acquitted of all charges in a UK criminal trial over an alleged sexual offense. In her words: "Kevin has been exonerated, and I hear from Kevin, we text."

Weinstein is currently behind bars at Rikers Island, serving a 16-year prison sentence following a conviction on rape and sexual assault in Los Angeles in 2023. Additionally, the producer was also convicted in New York in 2020 and sentenced to 23 years. 

Following a retrial this year, he was found guilty on one count of committing a criminal sexual act on Miriam Haley. Weinstein was also acquitted of a second charge of sexually assaulting a victim, while a mistrial was declared on the third allegation of rape.

Dench's comments filtered into Weinstein's quarters, and Deadline stated that he duly reacted to the actress's empathy towards him. The producer, through his spokesperson, appreciated Dench for her soothing words, while describing her as an extraordinary person who played an essential role in his career.

"I've now spent more than six and a half years incarcerated, including a year and a half in Rikers, which counts as double time," Weinstein wrote, while establishing his fondness for the actress.

He added that his presence in jail is for a crime he did not commit and added that the claims written about him "are gradually being shown to be untrue or unsupported." Nevertheless, the producer is grateful for Dench's kind words and hopes it will add to his chances of returning home to his family.

Following her statement in the interview, social media users weighed in on the situation, with most slamming the actress for her stance on such a sensitive subject.

One angry user wrote, "Wonder if Weinstein r-ped her daughter, if she'd hold the same feelings. This the exact reason why wealthy Lib Feminists are the enemy of the people. They literally don't give a sh-t what happens to anyone else or society in general as long as it doesn't disturb their privileged lives and gated communities."

Another commenter condemned the actress for turning into a stench who cannot stand for the truth and has thus become a "sellout." A third X user called out her hypocritical behavior towards the situation, adding that she would have reacted differently if her daughter were one of the victims.

"LOL. Set the rapist free? So much for women's rights," another X user wrote. Another unimpressed social media user advised the actress to let her granddaughter become Weinstein's assistant when he gets out, since she is so empathetic towards him.

"Hollywood celebs are fine with predators, rapists, and pedophiles provided they are good at their job," another commenter noted as they added the names of a few notable sexual offenders, including Roman Polanski, Victor Salva, Dennis Schneider, and Brian Singer.

The actress added her voice to the list of Hollywood celebrities who registered their support for Weinstein's victims when the allegations dropped. The Hollywood Reporter shared that Dench's statement dropped right after Meryl Streep towed the same path.

Dench asserted that while the producer was pivotal in her Hollywood success for the past two decades, she was kept in the dark about his offenses, which she found horrifying. "I offer my sympathy to those who have suffered, and whole-hearted support to those who have spoken out," the actress concluded.

The Hollywood personality had previously indicated her admiration for Weinstein by tattooing an image of him on her buttocks, although a makeup artist temporarily did it.

Weinstein was also significant in the release of her 1997 highly acclaimed movie "Mrs Brown," which earned her the first of her seven Oscar nominations.

Earlier in the year, The Blast shared that a model, Crystal McKinney, who had accused Diddy of drugging and assaulting her last year, filed an amended lawsuit against Weinstein on May 30.

According to McKinney, the producer had reportedly raped her alongside her friend in 2003 after she received a call from an anonymous executive from a managing agency who wanted to discuss a business venture with the producer at a hotel.

Subsequently, a friend escorted McKinney to the West Village hotel, where they both expressed optimism that Weinstein would consider her for a movie role. Following the meeting, the producer reportedly sought to know McKinney and her friend intimately while suggesting they move to his home. 

The producer then allegedly proceeded to touch her indiscriminately and rip her clothes after he got her drunk.

Will Judi Dench's plea score some forgiveness for Harvey Weinstein?