Model Who Accused Weinstein of Groping Witnessed "Bunga Bunga" Orgies
According to Page Six, the woman accusing Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault is an Italian model who witnessed at least one of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's infamous "bunga-bunga" orgies.
Ambra Battilana, a one-time Miss Italy contestant who uses the name Ambra Gutierrez on social media, was reportedly one of two teenage models who attended Berlusconi's group sex parties. At Berlusconi's trial for allegedly having sex with an underage prostitute, Battilana—now 22—testified that she and the other model attended the party hoping to find work as TV weather presenters. Instead, the women alleged, they were groped by the former PM and encouraged to undress.
Battilana claims that Weinstein grabbed her breasts and tried to put his hand up her dress during a private meeting between the two at the film mogul's office Friday evening. Weinstein was reportedly questioned by police on Saturday. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. will decide whether to press charges.
Sources from Weinstein's camp told Page Six that Battilana's allegations were bogus and a "blackmail attempt."
Mark Jay Heller, Battilana's lawyer, refuted the source's defense of Weinstein. "There absolutely was no attempt of blackmail, and, in fact, making such a false allegation adds insult to injury, causing a duplicity of victimization," he told Page Six yesterday.