Without πΊπππππππ π±πππππππππ, Georgina Chapman Might Have Faced Ruin Due to Harvey Weinstein, and Her Company Would Have Failed
Georgina Chapman, Harvey Weinstein’s wife, faced intense backlash and career damage due to his misconduct, pushing her fashion brand, Marchesa, to the brink of bankruptcy. πΊπππππππ π±πππππππππ’s support, coupled with public appearances in Marchesa attire at the 2018 Met Gala, helped the brand overcome the Weinstein scandal and rejuvenate its presence on the red carpet. Despite challenges and the departure of former partners, Chapman successfully rebuilt Marchesa, now earning over $40 million annually and maintaining its prominence at high-profile events.
Harvey Weinstein was once one of the most powerful men in Hollywood. His production company released over 140 films, bringing The Weinstein Company considerable financial success. However, everything came crashing down in 2017 when Weinstein faced allegations of misconduct and sexual abuse from dozens of women amid the #MeToo movement. In an instant, Weinstein’s public image transformed from a mogul to a predator.
Caught in the turmoil was Weinstein’s wife of 10 years, Georgina Chapman. People naturally assumed that Chapman had turned a blind eye to Weinstein’s misconduct. Consequently, she found herself blacklisted due to the repercussions of the scandal. Chapman became unwelcome, despite her claims of being unaware of the accusations against Weinstein. She filed for divorce almost immediately after the news broke, aiming to protect her children and keep them away from their father.
As a result, the company Chapman had spent years building was on the brink of bankruptcy. Enter πΊπππππππ π±πππππππππ, a woman who recognized that Chapman was being blamed for Weinstein’s wrongdoing, even though she was not a party to it. Thanks to Johansson, Chapman’s career was pulled back from the brink.
Who is Harvey Weinstein’s ex-wife?
Weinstein has been married twice in his life. When news of multiple allegations of abuse against him surfaced, he was married to Chapman, a woman who had built a reputation in the fashion industry, although she is mostly seen as the wife of the co-founder of the Miramax production company.
Chapman, who is currently in a romantic relationship with Adrian Brody, was one half of the duo behind the luxury design brand, Marchesa. Chapman, who now exclusively owns the brand, and her former partner, Keren Craig, founded the label in 2004 before Chapman began dating Weinstein. It quickly became a favorite among Hollywood stars attending red carpet events.
However, the rapid rise of this fashion line remained a mystery until information surfaced that Weinstein allegedly pressured powerful women he was collaborating with on projects to wear his wife’s dresses on the red carpet. If any actress refused, the funding for their films would reportedly be withdrawn.
As a result, actresses like Jennifer Lopez, Gwyneth Paltrow, Renee Zellweger, and others were seen wearing Marchesa outfits everywhere, from film premieres to award ceremonies.
Once the allegations against Weinstein came to light, Hollywood turned its back on Chapman. No one wore Marchesa to the 2018 Golden Globes, even though the luxury dresses had been a staple in previous years. Chapman and Craig “had to postpone their Spring/Summer preview.” Any collaborations the brand had with celebrities or other fashion houses were canceled.
It seemed like Marchesa was on the verge of filing for bankruptcy, similar to The Weinstein Company. However, an unexpected savior intervened before that could happen. Thanks to this intervention, Marchesa was saved.
How Scarlett Johansson saved Georgina Chapman’s company
Johansson has been outspoken for many years about the abuse of power in Hollywood, having prepared early in her career that she would not tolerate contractual violations with Disney. She has been a strong supporter of both #MeToo and Time’s Up movements.
So, when she chose to wear Marchesa to the 2018 Met Gala unapologetically, her ombre purple-red gown, which would have typically been praised, instead became one of the most controversial outfits of the evening.
Speaking about wearing the brand at the Met Gala, Johansson said, “I wore Marchesa because their clothes make women feel confident and beautiful. I am very happy to support a brand created by two incredibly talented and important female designers.”
Marchesa will also issue a statement regarding Johansson wearing their gown to the Met Gala.
“We are truly honored that Scarlett chose to wear Marchesa for the Met Gala,” the Marchesa statement read. “She is an amazingly talented actor who has incredible style and presence. It was wonderful working so closely with her in creating this custom look.”
Due to πΊπππππππ π±πππππππππ’s actions, Marchesa slowly made its way back to the red carpet, separating the label’s name from the Weinstein scandal. Other stars also supported Marchesa; Priyanka Chopra even wore a one-of-a-kind gown to her bridal shower in late 2018.
“Georgina’s a friend of mine, and she has been,” Chopra explained. “And it’s not her fault. And I don’t think it’s right to take it out on a self-made woman for what somebody in her life did.”
She continued, “That’s the wrong attitude. I’ve known her for years, and that was a beautiful gown, and deserved to be worn by a bride-to-be. And it made me feel like a princess. It was the right choice.”
In 2019, Chapman made a return to the red carpet for the Met Gala in a beaded gown and dressed Constance Wu of Crazy Rich Asians fame for the event as well. All these things were made possible by Johansson not being afraid to take the first step in un-canceling Chapman from Hollywood.
How Successful Is Marchesa Today?
Despite the fact that Craig left the label in 2019, Marchesa has continued to rebuild itself in the years since Weinstein was not only accused but convicted of his crimes. Given that reports show the company earns over $40 million yearly, with a 10% bump in earnings over the past year, they appear to have survived being connected to Weinstein.
In the years since Weinstein was convicted, Marchesa has again become a staple on the red carpet. From the premieres of Transformers: Rise of the Beasts and The Little Mermaid, which was incredibly successful despite some believing the casting was controversial, to The Prince’s Trust Gala, the Time100 Gala, the 2022 Oscars, 2021 Tony Awards, and more, Marchesa was front and center.
With Chapman, herself again feeling comfortable at these events after staying away for a time, her designs will only continue to become more prominent.
Just how much Chapman truly knew about what was happening with Weinstein will never be known. But by distancing herself and Marchesa immediately from her now ex-husband and having strong women support her along the way, Chapman was able to save the company she built before being connected to Weinstein.
Barring any other scandals, Marchesa should prove to be a profitable fashion house for years to come.
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