Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced Hollywood producer currently serving the sixth year of a 23-year prison sentence for multiple counts of rape, has granted his first major interview from behind bars, speaking openly to The Hollywood Reporter about his life in custody and his ongoing push for early release. Weinstein, whose predatory behavior was exposed in 2017 and sparked the global #MeToo movement, claimed in the interview that the conditions of his incarceration at Rikers Island have been exceptionally harsh.

He described being confined to his cell for 23 hours a day, with human contact limited to brief interactions with guards who escort him outside for approximately 30 minutes of fresh air, as well as occasional medical checks from nurses monitoring his health. According to Weinstein, these conditions constitute a form of ‘hell,’ contrasting them with his experience in state prison, where he said he had freedom to socialize, watch television, and interact with fellow inmates—a claim that underscores both his perception of isolation and his sense of entitlement.In the interview, Weinstein also highlighted the dangers he claims to face as a high-profile inmate, asserting that his “celebrity” status puts him at constant risk of physical harm.