Harvey WeinsteinPhoto: Etienne Laurent-Pool (Getty Images)
Although Harvey Weinstein’s recent criminal case in Los Angeles addressed allegations by multiple women, the disgraced producer was only convicted in connection with the assault of a specific woman. Known throughout the trial as “Jane Doe 1,” survivor Evgeniya Chernyshova revealed her identity in a new interview with . “I’m sick of hiding,” she told the outlet. “I want my life back. I’m Evgeniya, I was raped. This is my story.”
Chernyshova shared with the outlet her recollection of the attack, which occurred while attending the Los Angeles Italia Film Festival. Afterwards, she felt “depressed” and blamed herself for years. It wasn’t until her own daughter came to her and said she was assaulted as a second grader in high school that Chernyshova finally considered bringing up her own experience. “I told her there is only one condition I can [report my case]and that’s when she makes her case, too,” the former model explained.
She was hesitant even then, but revelations about Weinstein’s crimes in 2017 gave her courage to go to the police. The road to the Los Angeles trial was slow, and when it finally took place in 2022, Chernyshova described it as “the worst experience of my life.” She said: “The defenders’ techniques, how they harass and humiliate you, that’s brutal.”
Chernyshova, who has since filed a civil lawsuit against Weinstein, remained anonymous during this time “because I was ashamed and humiliated,” she explained. “I thought it was a good decision to protect my children. But it was a terrible decision for myself because I was cut off from everyone. It’s not right to go through this hell alone.” Although she is the sole survivor among those who testified in Los Angeles to obtain justice from the court, “I believe all the victims who testified,” she explained. “All of them. And I want to say this – this is not just my victory, this is our victory.”
In fact, Jane Doe #3 published her own statement to that effect. “Today justice prevailed for the survivors. No woman need fear Harvey Weinstein anymore as he will never leave prison,” she said in a press release from her legal team at Katz Banks Kumin. “I testified against Harvey Weinstein and stared this monster in the eye for three days in a brutal trial in which Weinstein’s attorneys attempted to frame me and all of his accusers by claiming that Harvey was the victim of the #MeToo movement. Today the court dismissed that notion and awarded Harvey what he deserved – the maximum sentence possible.”
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Chernyshova said of the sentencing: “I feel free, and a heavy weight and burden has been lifted from my chest. I look forward to a good night’s sleep.” You can read her full interview here.