Salma Hayek’s Ordeal with Harvey Weinstein During “Frida” Production

Salma Hayek has shared her distressing experience of being berated by Harvey Weinstein for portraying herself as “ugly” in the 2002 biopic Frida.

In her portrayal of iconic artist Frida Kahlo, Hayek received high praise from critics and even secured an Oscar nomination for best actress.

Despite her acclaimed performance, the Mexico-born actress disclosed that Weinstein, who is now serving a 23-year prison sentence for rape, was displeased upon seeing her in full Kahlo attire.

Hayek, who also produced the film with Lions Gate Films under her Ventanarosa banner, opened up to The Guardian about enduring Weinstein's bullying, which left her trembling.

She admitted to normalizing his abusive behavior as a coping mechanism, acknowledging that while it did affect her emotionally, there was a surreal aspect to the situation.

Recalling Weinstein's harsh criticism during the film's production, Hayek revealed how he would call her to question her appearance, exclaiming, “Why do you have a [monobrow] and moustache?

I didn't hire you to look ugly!”

In response, Hayek pointed out the irony by referencing Frida Kahlo's distinct features, questioning why her physical portrayal was an issue when male actors are not typically criticized for embodying their characters faithfully.

Furthermore, Hayek emphasized that Weinstein was not unique in seeking validation through belittling and undermining women.

Weinstein, currently facing 11 counts of s–ual assault in California, was recently extradited to the state and is scheduled for a hearing on December 8.

In a revealing piece for The New York Times in 2017, Hayek detailed her encounters with Weinstein, who attempted to undermine her talent and coerced her into filming a gratuitous s=x scene.

Despite her reluctance, Hayek reluctantly agreed to the scene to ensure the completion of her passion project, leading to a traumatic breakdown on set.

Hayek expressed her strong aversion to the exploitative scene, highlighting her distress at being manipulated into compromising her principles for the sake of the film.

Following the publication of her article, Weinstein's spokesperson denied the allegations, asserting that the producer did not recall pressuring Hayek into filming the controversial scene.

Moreover, Hayek revealed in her piece that Weinstein had subjected her to years of s–ual harassment, to which she repeatedly and emphatically refused consent.

In response to these accusations, Weinstein's representative disputed Hayek's claims, suggesting that there were conflicting accounts of the events described.

Reflecting on her ordeal, Hayek asserted that she focused on the bullying aspect in her NYT piece, underscoring the heightened mistreatment experienced by women at the hands of Weinstein.

She emphasized her resilience in the face of adversity, affirming that despite her fear, she projected a demeanor of unyielding strength towards Weinstein.