The artist and actress Alexandra Vino, the rumored girlfriend of Harvey Weinstein, spoke out this week to defend the disgraced Hollywood producer.

“Everyone seems to f–king hate Harvey but they don’t realize they don’t really hate Harvey,” Vino told the New York Post. “They are being told how to feel. He is a scapegoat for this entire [#MeToo] movement and they’ve destroyed his life. It’s been like a ­human sacrifice. People get 23 years in prison for murdering people, not for what he did.”

Weinstein, 68, was arguably the most powerful men in Hollywood before he was accused of sexual assault by dozens of women. Earlier this year, he was sentenced to 23 years for criminal sexual assault and rape, and he is serving out his sentence at the Wende Correctional Facility near Buffalo.

Vino, 30, has been linked to Weinstein ever since she was seen canoodling with him in New York City on the eve of his conviction for rape last fall. She was spotted sitting on his lap and even intervened to defend him at one point when another woman protested the presence of a “f–king rapist” at the bar.

“I know what Oscar parties are like, I know what goes on,” Vino added. “I’ve seen the gorgeous women throwing themselves at Harvey and other powerful men all day long. These girls in LA and New York are not naïve. You don’t hit on a guy [like Weinstein] with a track record for hitting on women. What, and then you’re all, ‘Oh I can’t believe he asked me for a back massage?’ Come on.”

She went on to say that she met Weinstein many years ago.

“I’ve known Harvey a very long time,” Vino explained. “I’ve seen women competing to be with him, begging to be with him. I have seen it with a lot of men in the industry. I’ve also seen how generous he can be — what a godfather he was to people. I find it horrifying what the press did to him and I think there was an agenda. I’m all for women’s rights and the women’s movement. But can’t we give women equal pay and equal rights without killing men?”

She also said that she thinks the two women whose cases put Weinstein in prison bear some responsibility for what happened to them.

“Lines were blurred,” Vino said. “I’m not saying these women are wrong. They both believe their truths and get coached by lawyers for financial gain. Everyone knows men are aggressive. And women can be, too. Men work hard so they can get the hottest chick and women do what they can to get the hottest, most ­powerful man. It’s what makes the world go round.”

The actress is very aware that aligning herself with Weinstein will not help her career.

“People have to be so politically correct these days that I think they’re scared of being seen as having anything to do with ­Harvey,” she said. “They might be afraid to cast me and that’s a big concern.”

“Nothing is in it for me except for the fact that I’m a loyal friend to all my friends,” Vino added. “I have a lot of empathy for him and I saw him lose his whole life. It’s hard for people to think I’d just be friends with him. We were friends before the scandal. Being friends with Harvey has not helped me. If anything it has been publicly not good to be with someone who everyone hates.”

Her real anger is for Weinstein’s former friends and colleagues.

“All these people just turned their backs on him — and they only did it to protect themselves,” Vino said. “So many people who stood up for him in the beginning saw they were in danger of losing their jobs because of it. So they just let him be destroyed. I say let the man f–king live. He’s not dangerous. He never was dangerous. He can barely walk.”

Vino concluded by saying that she is “loyal to a fault,” even though it has gotten her in trouble before.

“Harvey can’t do anything for me,” she added. “He’s in jail. But I’m loyal … I want to have a good life. My work is everything to me and I don’t want to be punished for speaking up. But I have to be authentic.”

This piece originally appeared in UpliftingToday.com and is used by permission.

Read more at UpliftingToday.com:
Marie Osmond Left ‘The Talk’ Because Of Sharon Osbourne, Source Says
Kim Jong Un Stuns The World By Issuing Rare Apology
Buckingham Palace Fires Back At Prince Harry And Meghan Markle After They Make Political Statement

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Steve Gruber.