Queen Elizabeth Strips Harvey Weinstein of His CBE, a Top Royal Honor
Queen Elizabeth has stripped Harvey Weinstein of his CBE. The now-disgraced producer received the honor in 2004.
"The Queen has directed that the appointment of Harvey Weinstein to be an Honorary Commander of the Civil Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, dated 29 January 2004, shall be cancelled and annulled and that his name shall be erased from the Register of the said Order," reads the announcement in the London Gazette, an official public record.
Although the decision was made in Queen Elizabeth's name, and she gave her approval for it, the government's Forfeiture Committee was responsible for the call. The committee is under a Cabinet Office, and is tasked with deciding when to revoke honors. It's similar to how the Queen will give royal assents to laws, but in an entirely ceremonial capacity—she herself is not approving or disapproving, but rather fulfilling her duty as Head of State.
On the U.K. government's website, it explains that the committee can strip an individual of honors for many reasons. "This might include being found guilty of a criminal offense, behavior which results in censure by a regulatory or a professional body, or any other behavior that is deemed to bring the honors system into disrepute," it reads.
Following a series of ground-breaking investigations into Weinstein's behavior, from the New York Times, New Yorker, and more, the producer was convicted earlier this year of a criminal sexual act in the first degree and third-degree rape. Weinstein is serving a 23-year sentence for his crimes, and legal proceedings are ongoing for further allegations against him.
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