Harvey Weinstein's Prison Consultant Wants His Leukemia Diagnosis Kept Private

Photo byDavid Shankbone, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced Hollywood movie mogul, has been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia. This is a rare cancer of the bone marrow. The producer whose predatory behavior toward women ignited the #MeToo movement will be treated at Rikers Island in New York City. Weinstein is 72 years old. The five-year survival rate for people 65 and older is 50.3%.

Craig Rothfeld, Weinstein's health care representative and prison consultant, is taking issue with the media reporting this development. Rothfeld was hired in 2020 to help Weinstein navigate the New York State Correctional System. Rothfeld himself is a veteran of the system, having spent time at Rikers and having served time in upstate New York for white-collar crimes.

In a statement to CNN regarding the widespread coverage of Weinstein's diagnosis, he stated, “It is both troubling and unacceptable that such private and confidential health matters have become a subject of public discourse. Out of respect for Mr. Weinstein’s privacy, we will offer no further comment.”

Weinstein suffered double pneumonia and COVID-19 in July 2024. He also has diabetes.

In September 2024, Weinstein underwent emergency heart surgery. He was rushed to Bellevue Hospital in Manhattan for the procedure and was released shortly after.

An appeals court overturned Weinstein's 2020 conviction.

His representatives declined to comment on whether his cancer diagnosis will have any impact on his upcoming trial scheduled for November 12.