Harvey Weinstein apologizes for using Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence as legal shields

Disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein indirectly apologized to Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence for using their names and their words in an attempt to stop a class action lawsuit against himself after he was accused of sexual assault and misconduct by dozens upon dozens of women in Hollywood.

Weinstein's representatives told Deadline Thursday that the ex-head of The Weinstein Company apologized to Streep and Lawrence after both actresses publicly called him out for using their quotes in court. Both actresses had previously stated that they were not sexually assaulted by Weinstein, which Weinstein's legal team tried to use as grounds to get the lawsuit thrown out.

"Mr. Weinstein acknowledges the valuable input both Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence have contributed to this conversation and apologizes," Weinstein's rep's told Deadline. “Moving forward, Mr. Weinstein has advised his counsel to not include specific names of former associates; and to avoid whenever possible, even if they are in the public record.”

Upon hearing what Weinstein's attorneys did with her words and name, Streep called the tactic "pathetic and exploitive."

Weinstein, who has vehemently denied all accusations made against him since the first bombshell report against him published in October 2017, is under investigation by the Los Angeles District Attorney's office. His lawyers ascertain that he did nothing criminal, despite the mountain of allegations.

After allegations against Weinstein came out, dozens upon dozens more stories of sexual assault and misconduct sprouted up against men in power across Hollywood, the broader entertainment world, and other industries. The #MeToo movement inspired the start of Time's Up, an initiative to empower people against sexual assaulters and aid them in legal battles.