Ambra Battilana Sexually Molested By Mogul Harvey Weinstein? NYPD Investigates
Italian model Ambra Batillana came to authorities last Monday with claims that she was sexually molested by movie mogul Harvey Weinstein.
The model reported that she was invited by Weinstein to come by his office for an appointment. When they met at Radio City Music Hall, he expressed his interest to check the model’s portfolio and acting tapes. Thinking that an opportunity is awaiting her, the eager model headed out to Weinstein’s office Friday last week. Instead of scoring a deal, Batillana claims she ended up being violated.
She told the New York Police Department that the 63-year-old inquired if her breasts were real. He allegedly groped her breast and put his hand up her skirt to grab her thigh. When he tried to kiss her, the model refused and left the office.
Model Ambra Battilana accuses Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault http://t.co/dtZuduq8ND pic.twitter.com/jFt9YO3pAQ
— Flavorwire (@flavorwire) March 31, 2015
Weinstein denied the model’s allegations saying that he had done nothing wrong during their business meeting and agreed to cooperate with the authorities as they conduct their investigation. He dismissed Batillana’s accusations as untruthful and only as an act of blackmail.
Weinstein’s camp declined to make further comments about the said issue but Batillana was brave to take her sentiments to social media. Last Monday, when the controversy broke out, the model created a new Twitter account. As if to send a message, she posted, “Don’t stop dreaming just because you had a nightmare.”
This is not the first time that the model had woken up to a terrible dream. Over the past few years, she battled two similar cases in Italy, one involving her former 70-year-old lover and another implicating Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
Back in 2010, Batillana accused her unnamed ex-lover of rape. She met the rich car dealer in 2009 who offered to generously reward her with money in exchange for sexual favors. The model was still a minor at that time but because of severe poverty, she was forced to accept the wealthy man’s deal. At first, it started with weekly favors but in the end, she was coerced to move into his apartment.
A year later in 2011, together with fellow beauty queen Chiara Danese, Batillana exposed Berlusconi’s sex party in Milan. The two testified that they were invited to a party where they were asked to undress and were treated like prostitutes. Berlusconi was convicted in 2013 but was acquitted a year later.
[Main image via Inside Edition YouTube]
