The Weinstein Co. has scuttled plans to use its usual suite at the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Toronto for press junkets and events at the Toronto International Film Festival this year – but the studio says politics has nothing to do with the decision.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Weinstein Co. had a suite and rooms at the hotel during the 2014 iteration of TIFF, but decided to let them go this year.
“A lot of it is based on convenience,” Weinstein public relations head Dani Weinstein told the outlet. “We have multiple films and will be where the talent and junketing is. That’s a bigger priority than the politicalness of it.”
In a separate statement to THR, Harvey Weinstein revealed that his liberal mother is a big fan of Trump.
“Bob [Weinstein] and I are in court trying to abrogate being my mother’s sons,” Harvey Weinstein said. “Because my mother, who’s been a Jewish liberal for the last 40 years, just keeps saying how wonderful Donald is. We’re going to have to hire Bert Fields to get us out.”
Meanwhile, the Weinstein Co. is reportedly looking to fill vacancies left after four top executives exited the company in just one week; COO and Harvey right-hand-man David Glasser, Radius founders Tom Quinn and Jason Janego, and and senior vice president of production Julie Rapaport.
The departures come after a deal to sell the Weinstein’s TV division to British broadcaster ITV fell apart in late May.
Despite the setbacks, Harvey Weinstein insists his company is still “in great shape.”
“We got our ass kicked in 2008,” Weinstein told THR. “But no bulls**t, I think the company financially is the best it’s ever been right now.”