Harvey Weinstein being treated for rare bone marrow cancer in prison

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Disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein has a rare bone marrow cancer and is being treated in prison for the condition.

The former Hollywood mogul has been affected by a series of health issues that have seen him receive hospital treatment while serving a jail sentence for the rape of an actress in Los Angeles in 2013.

Weinstein, 72, is undergoing treatment in prison at Rikers Island in New York for chronic myeloid leukaemia, a rare type of cancer which affects white blood cells.

In a statement to NBC News, Weinstein's representative Craig Rothfeld said they will give "no further comment" out of "respect for Mr Weinstein's privacy".

Weinstein’s spokesperson Juda Engelmayer in a statement provided to Variety, said: “Craig Rothfeld, Mr. Weinstein’s authorised legal healthcare representative in New York State, expresses profound dismay at the speculation surrounding Mr. Weinstein’s medical condition.

“It is both troubling and unacceptable that such private and confidential health matters have become a subject of public discourse.

“Out of respect for Mr. Weinstein’s privacy, we will offer no further comment.”

Weinstein's representatives have previously said he suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure, spinal stenosis and fluid in his heart and lungs.

Last month, Weinstein had emergency surgery to remove fluid around his heart and lungs and in July he was in hospital after testing positive for COVID-19 and contracting double pneumonia.

His lawyer Arthur Aidala claimed that the disgraced movie producer “almost died” following the emergency heart surgery.

His health issues come as Weinstein awaits a retrial over his 2020 rape and sexual assault conviction, which was overturned by New York's highest court in April.

The Court of Appeals ruled he did not get a fair trial as the judge who presided over the hearing unfairly allowed testimony against him based on allegations that were not part of the case.

Despite that conviction being overturned, he has remained in prison due to another conviction last year, for the rape of an actress in Los Angeles in 2013.

He is appealing against that conviction.

Weinstein still faces two other criminal counts, to which he also pleaded not guilty, including another criminal sexual act charge and a rape charge.

He pleaded not guilty to an additional charge of sexual assault last month.

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After becoming one of the most-accused figures of the #MeToo movement, Weinstein has continued to deny that he assaulted or raped anyone.

Weinstein and his brother Bob Weinstein formed the movie company Miramax in 1979.

The company produced a raft of hit films including Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare in Love.

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