Donna Karan suggests Harvey Weinstein victims may have been ‘asking for it’

Designer Donna Karan is under fire for appearing to defend Harvey Weinstein, and instead questioning women, after suggesting that alleged victims were ‘asking for it’.

Speaking from the red carpet at the CinéFashion Film Awards in Los Angeles, Karan, 69, implied that the blame for the alleged attacks couldn’t be borne by just Weinstein. 

“I think we have to look at ourselves,” the creator of DKNY said.

She added: “I also think how do we display ourselves? How do we present ourselves as women? What are we asking? Are we asking for it by presenting all the sensuality and all the sexuality?”

“Harvey has done some amazing things,” Karan continued. “I think we have to look at our world and what we want to say and how we want to say it as well. You look at everything all over the world today and how women are dressing and what they are asking by just presenting themselves the way they do. What are they asking for? Trouble.”

She then referred to Weinstein and his wife as “wonderful people”. 

Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie are the latest celebs to claim that Weinstein sexually harassed them in an explosive story in the New York Times. "We're at a point in time when women need to send a clear message that this is over," Paltrow said. "This way of treating women ends now."

If you, or someone you know,has been affected by sexual harrassment, visit lifeline.org.au or call 13 11 14.