Amanda Seyfried Under Fire For ‘Disturbing’ Weinstein Comments

Amanda Seyfried and Adam Brody are facing significant backlash following controversial remarks about disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein during a recent interview.

When discussing their past knowledge of the Weinstein allegations during an episode of Variety’s “Actors On Actors” series, Adam Brody and Amanda Seyfried faced a wave of criticism on social media for what many are calling “tone-deaf” and “disgusting” comments.

Within the conversation, Seyfried admitted that she “didn’t know the extent” of Weinstein’s abuse until the allegations became public in 2017. Brody also claimed that while he knew Weinstein was “scary,” he had “not heard anything sexual” about him before the general public exposé.

The 2 appeared to downplay their awareness of the scandal, with Brody suggesting he didn’t hear any rumors about Weinstein’s sexual misconduct, mainly since the victims were women.

As Seyfried and Brody smiled and laughed in the course of the conversation, many viewers were appalled by their seemingly lighthearted tone, mainly as they discussed their interactions with Weinstein.

Seyfried recalled being awestruck by Weinstein on the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, when he agreed to attend the premiere of her film Lovelace. She described giving him a hug on the event, reenacting it on camera for Brody as she laughed about it.

“Yeah, I gave him the largest hug,” Seyfried said. “It was just the thrill with which the entire room was buzzing. And I gave him the largest hug. I’m like, ‘Harvey bought it.’ And he was like the massive papa of the room.”

The retrial had just seen Weinstein convicted of sexually assaulting his former assistant. Nonetheless, the jury declared a mistrial on one charge of rape and located him not guilty of forcing oral sex on a teenage model.

One user wrote within the comments section, “This is way from funny omg how repugnant of them,” while one other added, “The best way they’re each laughing during this story is kind of disturbing.”

Many also expressed disbelief on the actors’ claims that they didn’t know the total extent of Weinstein’s actions, with some mentioning that the allegations had long been rumored and were considered an “open secret” in Hollywood.

“Jesus Christ, why on earth would she say that?” another person said.

Others, nonetheless, had Seyfried’s back.

“I feel it is important to truly hearken to her whole audio about this because she said that she had heard rumors, but she didn’t understand how bad it really was,” someone said. “She just thought he was sort of like a grimy flirt, so I feel it is important to hearken to what she said about him and never take this quote too seriously.”

“Love her honesty,” one other fan said.

“Finally, someone admits it,” a 3rd commented.

The interview took place amid the continued legal battles surrounding Weinstein, with the conversation inevitably revisiting the producer’s history of abuse and its impact on Hollywood. The actors discussed how Weinstein had been a serious player within the industry, setting a tone of fear and control, which they admitted contributed to the culture of silence and complicity.

Seyfried, specifically, noted that “Hollywood is a safer place now” since Weinstein’s downfall, recognizing the fear he instilled in others as a key consider enabling his behavior.

“He was just like the dictator sort of,” Seyfried added, acknowledging that individuals were “afraid of him” and that “the suitable things didn’t occur” when that fear prevailed.

Despite the lighthearted tone of their conversation, it’s clear that the impact of the Weinstein scandal has far-reaching consequences. Seyfried and Brody’s remarks, which many deemed insensitive, have only intensified the continued discussion concerning the abuse of power in Hollywood, the industry’s complicity in enabling Weinstein’s actions, and the culture of silence that kept his abuse under wraps for therefore long.