Kaja Sokola, a former runway model from Poland, gave emotional testimony during Harvey Weinstein’s sexual abuse retrial, describing the alleged assault as the “most horrifying thing” she had ever experienced. Sokola, now 39 years old, accused Weinstein of sexual assault that occurred in 2006 when she was 19.
During her testimony in New York City, Sokola described how Weinstein took advantage of her in his Manhattan apartment, where he reportedly put his hand inside her underwear and forced her to touch his genitals. She recalled seeing Weinstein’s “black and scary” eyes in the bathroom mirror as the assault took place.
Weinstein’s Threats and Manipulation Lead Sokola to Abandon Her Hollywood Dreams
After the assault, Sokola testified that Weinstein demanded she stay silent about the incident, claiming he had helped shape the careers of A-list actresses like Gwyneth Paltrow and Penélope Cruz. Weinstein allegedly told Sokola that he could help her Hollywood dreams come true if she kept quiet. Sokola shared that she felt ashamed, foolish, and as though the assault was her fault for putting herself in that situation. This emotional turmoil, she said, led her to abandon her aspirations of becoming an actress.
Kaja Sokola Testifies in Weinstein Retrial, Describes Assault That Ended Her Hollywood DreamsSokola met Weinstein shortly after moving from Warsaw, Poland, to New York in pursuit of a career in acting and modeling. In her lawsuit, she explained how she was introduced to Weinstein at a modeling agency event and was promised help in becoming an actor. However, days after their meeting, Weinstein took Sokola to his Manhattan apartment under the pretense of a business lunch. There, he allegedly demanded sex, and when Sokola resisted, he warned her that she would never succeed in Hollywood without fulfilling his demands.
Sokola’s Emotional Trauma and Weinstein’s Denial Amid Ongoing Legal Battles and Appeals
Sokola’s emotional pain following the assault was profound. According to her lawsuit, the traumatic experience caused her to give up on her acting career altogether. During her testimony, Sokola described how Weinstein pressured her to undress, claiming it was something actresses had to do for their careers. She recounted feeling immense fear, explaining that Weinstein had told her that actors must comply with such demands to succeed, further deepening her anxiety and distress at the time.
Harvey Weinstein, who was convicted in 2020 for similar offenses, has consistently denied the allegations, arguing that all sexual encounters were consensual and transactional. However, his previous conviction was overturned in 2024, and he now faces additional charges related to Sokola’s case.
Sokola’s allegations were not part of Weinstein’s first trial, but she was among the women who filed a class-action lawsuit in 2019, with her own separate legal action following. Weinstein, already sentenced to 16 years for a rape conviction in Los Angeles, continues to fight these charges, with his lawyers appealing his previous convictions.