Harvey Weinstein stripped of honorary CBE

The Queen has stripped movie producer and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein of his honorary CBE six months after he was sentenced to 23 years in prison.

Her Majesty annulled his appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire late last week upon the suggestion of the Honours Forfeiture Committee, which is independent from government.

Despite pleading ‘not guilty’ Weinstein was convicted of rape and sexual assault in March after dozens of female actresses told journalists what he had done while head of the Miramax production company.

Weinstein, who admitted hiring former intelligence analysts from the Israel Defence Forces to thwart his accusers, was awarded the CBE for services to the film industry in 2004. The British Film Institute rescinded Weinstein’s Fellowship in 2017.

It is rare for any British honours awarded by The Queen to be rescinded, but other well-known examples include those for disgraced children’s entertainer Rolf Harris and former Royal Bank of Scotland boss Fred Goodwin

Weinstein’s conduct inspired the breakthrough #MeToo movement, but despite the allegations levelled against him he still hired the Israeli firm Black Cube in 2017, whose agents faked personas to get close to both his accusers and reporters.

In one of his emails to the company, he sent a list of names, adding: “Red flags are the ones of interest.” Some later accused him of sexual misconduct, including Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra, who said he raped her.