Imprisoned movie producer Harvey Weinstein has been hospitalised after suffering heart failure linked to pneumonia while being held at New York City's Rikers Island jail complex, according to multiple reports.
Medical emergency at Rikers Island
Weinstein, 73, experienced the medical emergency about two weeks ago while in custody awaiting sentencing in September following his 2025 sexual assault conviction. Sources familiar with the matter told TMZ that Weinstein developed breathing difficulties before prison authorities transferred him to the Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward in Manhattan for emergency treatment.
Doctors at Bellevue have placed him on intravenous treatment, connected him to a heart monitor and administered antibiotics to treat the pneumonia. The report said Weinstein's condition has improved, although he is still receiving medical care and has not fully recovered.
History of health issues
Weinstein has experienced several health issues while in custody in recent years. He became the central figure in the #MeToo movement after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct, leading to a series of criminal prosecutions.
In 2020, he was convicted in New York of rape and a criminal sexual act and sentenced to 23 years in prison. However, that conviction was overturned in 2024, leading to a retrial in 2025, where he was again convicted on a sexual assault charge. He is awaiting sentencing in that case.
Separate convictions
Separately, Weinstein was convicted in Los Angeles in 2022 on charges of rape and sexual assault and sentenced to 16 years in prison. The combined sentences from both jurisdictions ensure he will likely spend the remainder of his life behind bars.
As of the latest reports, Weinstein remains at Bellevue Hospital under medical supervision, with no immediate word on when he might return to Rikers Island.
