A former model, Kaja Sokola, tearfully recounted her traumatic experiences with Harvey Weinstein during a court hearing on Thursday. She described the incidents as the most “horrifying thing I ever experienced” when she was just 16 years old. This testimony marks a crucial moment in Weinstein’s ongoing MeToo retrial, as Sokola is the second of three accusers to take the stand, and notably, the only one who did not participate in Weinstein’s first trial in 2020.
Weinstein is currently facing a criminal sex act charge related to an allegation that he forcibly performed oral sex on Sokola at a Manhattan hotel in 2006, shortly before her 20th birthday. The earlier incident, which occurred four years prior, unfortunately falls outside the legal time limits for prosecution. Despite these serious allegations, Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and maintains that he has never sexually assaulted anyone. His legal team is set to begin cross-examining Sokola on Friday, arguing that all of his accusers consented to sexual encounters in pursuit of their careers.
Born in Poland, Sokola began her modeling career at the age of 14, quickly gaining international recognition through photo shoots and fashion shows. However, her true passion lay in acting. In 2002, she was introduced to Weinstein at a New York nightclub, where he invited her to lunch to discuss her aspirations in film. Instead of a professional meeting, Sokola testified that Weinstein directed her to his Manhattan apartment, where things took a disturbing turn.
Sokola recounted the incident in graphic detail, stating that Weinstein told her to disrobe, claiming that all actors must be comfortable with nudity in films. Feeling vulnerable and confused, she complied, following him into the bathroom where he assaulted her. “I was 16 years old, and I was alone with a man for the first time, and I didn’t know what else to do,” she explained. Despite her objections, Weinstein proceeded to assault her while she was left feeling trapped and frightened.
After the assault, Sokola testified that Weinstein warned her to remain silent about the incident, asserting that he had the power to make or break Hollywood careers. “I felt stupid and ashamed,” she shared, breaking down in tears as she described how the experience affected her self-perception. As she spoke, the jury listened intently, with many taking notes on her emotional testimony. Weinstein, 73, remained distant, visibly uncomfortable as she recounted her harrowing experiences.
Years later, in 2006, Sokola had another encounter with Weinstein while pursuing her acting career. Although she had hoped to meet him regarding a role as an extra in the film “The Nanny Diaries,” the meeting escalated into another assault. Sokola testified that Weinstein invited her to his hotel room under the pretense of discussing a script, but instead, he overpowered her and assaulted her again, despite her desperate pleas for him to stop.
It wasn’t until the onset of Weinstein’s first trial that Sokola decided to come forward. Following a wave of allegations against him in 2017 that ignited the MeToo movement, she filed a lawsuit detailing the 2002 incident and eventually received $3.5 million in compensation. The ongoing trial has renewed attention on Weinstein’s actions, and the legal proceedings have been reactivated following a reversal of his previous conviction by New York’s highest court.
Another accuser, Miriam Haley, testified last week, claiming that Weinstein forced oral sex on her in 2006. The third accuser, Jessica Mann, is expected to testify in the upcoming days, alleging that Weinstein raped her in 2013. The Associated Press typically refrains from naming sexual assault accusers unless they provide explicit permission, which has been granted in the cases of Haley, Mann, and Sokola.
This trial serves as a significant chapter in the ongoing fight against sexual assault in Hollywood, highlighting the courage of survivors like Kaja Sokola in seeking justice and bringing their stories to light.
