Harvey Weinstein apologises for citing Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence in legal defense

Harvey Weinstein has apologised for using statements by veteran actor Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence in his defense against a class-action sexual harassment lawsuit.

Weinstein's attorneys, Phyllis Kupferstein and Mary Flynn, had mentioned the names of prominent Hollywood A-listers, including Streep, Lawrence and Gwyneth Paltrow to prove that not all women had a negative experience of working with him.

The motion claimed that Streep had stated publicly that "Weinstein had always been respectful to her in their working relationship." The document also included comments Lawrence made to Oprah Winfrey where she had said the producer had "only ever been nice" to her.

However, the move did not go down well with Streep and Lawrence, who objected to being invoked in Weinstein's defense, reported Variety.

"Even though Mr Weinstein has worked with hundreds of actresses and actors who had only professional and mutually respectful experiences with him, Mr Weinstein has directed in the future that no specific names be used by his counsel, even where those actors have made previous public statements about him.

"Mr Weinstein acknowledges the valuable input both Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence have contributed to this conversation and apologises. Once again, moving forward, Mr Weinstein has advised his counsel to not include specific names of former associates; and to avoid whenever possible, even if they are in the public record," the disgraced Hollywood producer's spokesperson said in a statement.

In response to the motion, Lawrence described Weinstein as a "predator".

Her comment followed Streep firing back at the producer. She said the action was "pathetic and exploitative".

The lawsuit against Weinstein was filed by six female actors claiming that the producer, along with The Weinstein Company, used his power to bully women and cover up the cases of sexual misconduct.