The Weinstein Company will enter a re-branding phase in light of the events that have transpired within the past few weeks. After several horrifying reports and allegations of sexual harassment from big name Hollywood actresses such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelia Jolie, and Ashley Judd, Harvey Weinstein has been ousted by the company he founded. This leaves 23% of stake in the company up for grabs, and several parties have already showed interested in buying it including rap mogul and business (man), Jay-Z.
The 4:44 rapper would be the head of a team of investors, including a billionaire and famous movie director, according to TMZ. With the possible purchasing of this stake, many positives can come from both sides of the deal.
The production company has TV projects and movies already in the works, but will need new capital/material to make up for any losses that will be endured from Harvey Weinstein’s firing. With a brilliant, innovative mind such as Mr. Carter’s in grasps, it would definitely be in the companies best interest. Harvey Weinstein’s reputation was also very big in Hollywood, but sliding Jay-Z into his slot would make that hole a second thought, as the money making man has tons of connections in the business. Lastly, and probably the most important aspect of this potential pairing, would be the fact that a person of color would be in a powerful position to help diversify the Hollywood world. His eye for talent (along with his wife Beyoncé) would bring culture and flavor to a studio that was already on the downfall before the allegations.
Jay-Z already has stake/history dealing with TWC, as he produced Time: The Kalief Browder Story, which premiered this past March on Spike TV. He also has more projects in the works with the company that include a Trayvon Martin miniseries, an adaptation of Lin Manuel Miranda’s In The Heights, a Richard Pryor biopic, and a program exploring race in America hosted by the man himself. A lot of the productions he has taken on are vital stories/situations, with many bringing light to the hardships African Americans face everyday, and with the purchase of the stake in the company in the works, it’s suspected that Jay-Z would continue this trend of diversity in his work. It has been reported before that Jay has enjoyed working with The Weinstein Company and “wants his relationship with the company to continue and grow.”
Nothing has been confirmed just yet on the deal, but hopefully this dream can become a reality, as Jay-Z continues to show practice in what he preaches.
