← The Viall Files
The Viall Files
E963 – Going Deeper with Kaja Sokola
01:18:12
Welcome back to The Viall Files: Going Deeper edition. Trigger Warning: This episode includes content pertaining to sexual assault. Please listen at your own comfort. On June 11th, 2025, jurors acquitted Harvey Weinstein of sexually assaulting...
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- [00:00]
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- [00:02]
Nick Viall
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- [00:20]
Kaya
Just wanted to give a quick trigger warning for the people about to listen to this episode with ka. It is a very tough conversation, but.
- [00:27]
Dylan
Also obviously a very important one.
- [00:28]
Kaya
She's so brave to tell her story and she makes people who have been through similar things feel less alone. It's honestly a very tough conversation and.
- [00:35]
Dylan
Hard to hear, but one worth having and one worth listening to. So thanks for listening and thanks to KA for being so brave.
- [00:44]
Kaya
You're crazy.
- [00:55]
Nick Viall
Kaya. Welcome to the Vile Files.
- [00:57]
Kaya
Hello. So nice to meet you.
- [00:59]
Nick Viall
Lovely to meet you. We really appreciate you being here. Obviously you've been, you know, through a lot over the years and now you finally have a chance to really talk about it and just want to just express our appreciation first and foremost for having this conversation. We look forward to getting to know you more along with just understanding your story a little bit better. Just, you know, I think there's just obviously a theme when it comes to women in your position or just victims of all kind of sexual assault who come forward and fight. They're often reduced down to like a victim. And so much of the legal battle, you know, puts you in a box and, you know, I'm sure I imagine it feels like other people get to tell your story often. So we very much look forward to having this conversation, getting to know you better.
- [01:53]
Kaya
How much time do we have if you want to get to know me better?
- [01:59]
Nick Viall
Usually these take like, you know, an hour, 90 minutes, minutes or so. But, you know, truly we just want to like, you know, what we love to do on the show is to get to know the people we talk to and just have that conversation. It's, you know, less of an interview, more just people having a real life conversation. Sadly, there's so many women out there, obviously who are victims of sexual assault, many of which don't come forward rightfully. So for all the reasons that are out there, that can be very scary. My wife, sadly, is a victim of sexual assault. So these are obviously very important conversation. So just want to thank you again for taking the time and being with us today.
- [02:37]
Kaya
I really appreciate that. Thank you. Yeah, and it means a lot that, like you said, I've been put in a box first as a Model, then as a psychologist, now as a victim, and I'm like, come on, how many boxes I need to have? Enough. But. Yeah, but people try to look at victims through, like, a shortcut version of what happened. But that's, you know, as you know, we have lives. We are accomplishing things, and something happened that hopefully actions like, you know, me standing up in court will help other women to not be afraid to do that. Yeah, it's really important.
- [03:19]
Nick Viall
Well, I'm sure we'll dive into the case and everything and everything you've been through, but I also just wanted to start by just getting to know you. You mentioned, as you're a psychologist, you're a model, you're also a mot. I mean, where would you like to start? I imagine over the years, there have been times where you felt like you don't really know who I am, where people, like I said, have told your story. So where would you like to start in terms of sharing with our audience a little bit more about you?
- [03:51]
Kaya
I think it's important to start a childhood. Right?
- [03:53]
Dylan
Yeah.
- [03:55]
Kaya
That's where it all begins. And right now, being a mom of a boy, single mom, I can, you know, show him love and closeness, emotional closeness and support that I never had as a child. First of all, you know, I grew up in Poland. My parents were from a little bit different generation that we are right now. But also, my mom was always overly ambitious and not very emotional. So I am a. Believe it or not, but I'm a goofball and a very emotional person. So it was. I was kind of had to put myself in a. In a shell and lock it because it didn't fit to my family dynamics. And I think that that's when I started, like, developing love for acting and for performance and for poetry, because it expressed everything that I had in me, but I couldn't really do it in other ways.
- [04:54]
Dylan
How do you feel like it conditioned you as a child? Like, growing up with parents who weren't really emotional?
- [05:00]
Kaya
My dad was. Your dad was emotional? My dad was very emotional. My dad was amazing. He died in 2023. I'm sorry. Thank you. And he was the one that I could talk to, but he was traveling a lot. He was, you know, he was making money. He was providing for our family. So, yeah, my sister's 12 years older, and she was never really at home at the time when I was at home.
- [05:21]
Dylan
How were you in relationships once you started dating? And, like, did you kind of. Did you realize that your mom didn't show love or express love. And you were like, I want to do the opposite. I want to, like, overly show love. Or were you kind of the same way?
- [05:36]
Kaya
I was? I was a bit of a wild child. Yeah. I was listening to punk rock and I was wearing, you know, big boots and fish men. Yeah. You know, New York, when you're 17, 18, it's kind of vibe. And I wanted to hang out with the cool guys and cool girls. I think that it definitely, like, it shaped me in two ways. In one way, because my mom was so hard on me on achieving, you know, the best. The best. I would be very open at the beginning, but then I would just, you know, shut down and not when anyone get close to me. And second thing is that I always wanted to be the best because that's what, you know, I've heard from my mom. So be the best in modeling, be the best in school. And it's really hard to, you know, to function on these level of intensiveness. I think what's also important is that I was at the beginning, I was shy because I. I was a very chubby kid, chubby girl. And kids in, like, first grades of elementary school used to tease me and laugh at me, and I felt, oh, my God, I didn't want to go to school. It was just so horrible. And then suddenly when I lost weight, you know, on the outside, I might have changed, but on the inside, you don't change so fast. You still kind of stay. You know, it takes time to develop, to build personality and perspective on yourself that's different from the one that you've heard you are. So I guess when I started modeling, I never really wanted to model. It was not my dream, it was not my goal. And I mean, first of all, I didn't believe that anyone could want take pictures of me back then. Now I have more confidence.
- [07:31]
Dylan
So how did you get into modeling if you were never. You never saw that for yourself.
- [07:35]
Kaya
My mom and my sister, they took pictures of me, and they send them to magazines for competitions, contests. And I, you know, it. It like happened really overnight because I won a competition contest, let's say that the price was a contract with Next Models. Oh, wow. Like, one day I won it, and the next day I was flying to Paris with my mom. And it's just. It really all that fast. But I don't think I've ever really fit in that world.
- [08:04]
Dylan
Was all of that happening in Poland or had you moved to the States?
- [08:07]
Kaya
Yeah, no, this was happening in Poland. Then I started traveling to France with my Mom. To Paris. Paris at first, and then just by myself in Europe. And then When I was 16, I went to New York.
- [08:22]
Dylan
You lived in like a model's apartment and did that whole thing.
- [08:27]
Kaya
The brutal lifestyle. It's a brutal. It's like Hunger Games, Fight for Survival. It is. It's really rad, you know, but even worse than. Oh my God, I'm gonna talk so much shit about that, but okay, who cares? But even worse than that are beauty competitions. I won a beauty pageant in Poland when I was 18. And I mean, the things that the girls were doing, it's not just stories like putting color into shampoo or like tinted creams, like, mess you up. Yeah.
- [08:59]
Nick Viall
Oh, wow.
- [08:59]
Kaya
Oh my gosh, Erin, that's awful. Yeah, it's not. I mean, now I can laugh at it. Hopefully my son will know. No, he won't.
- [09:11]
So you moved to New York at 16?
- [09:13]
17. Yeah.
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Dylan
Okay. And you left your family in Poland?
- [09:17]
Kaya
I mean, I was traveling still a lot, so I was kind of back and forth because I would, you know, I get job, we all know, I guess and you know, Australia or Japan or in Europe flying back and forth. But still I was. I finished school normally. I graduated. Pretty good results. Okay, so. So yeah.
- [09:39]
Did you have much of a support.
- [09:40]
Dylan
System in New York when you were living there at the time?
- [09:43]
Kaya
No, no, None. None. I didn't know anyone. And you know, it was, it was, I mean, exciting. I really wanted to come to America, you know, speak English. So it was much easier than in France or in Italy. And I was just fascinated by New York especially. So it was exciting and happy, but at the same time, I mean, now thinking about it, when I look at 16 year old girls or 15 year old girls, and I think that that was me when I got here. Like, these are kids, kids.
- [10:17]
Dylan
It's so much different now that you have your own child too.
- [10:19]
Kaya
You're like, how, obviously, how the heck did that happen? I mean, I remember there was a lot of funny stories outside of the be story that, you know, the world knows right now. I remember our agent, my agents, they got me and my friend who was also 16, tickets for Lenny Kravitz concert in Jones Beach. Okay. And so they told, they told us, it's so easy to get there. Don't worry. We had no idea what we're doing. But someone told us some people said this, take this train, go like that. And we finally got there. Okay. Concert was amazing. But then how to get back and it's quite of a ride. So we were asking people, two 16 year old girls, can you take us back to this city? Did you get back two models? Yeah, two 16 year old models. And so there was one car that basically the fume of weed was just coming out from all the windows. And I was like, I don't think we can do that. I rather sleep in the bushes. Seriously. But then fortunately, I'm not going to name drop. But there was one very nice actor who had his car and his driver and we got back to the city and till that day, I love gingerheads. Trustworthy.
- [11:42]
Dylan
Trustworthy.
- [11:43]
Kaya
Okay.
- [11:45]
Nick Viall
And then it was at that point when you started getting into acting?
- [11:48]
Kaya
Well, I started getting into acting in school when I was younger.
- [11:51]
Nick Viall
But in terms of like, when you were in America, in terms of like trying to get into film here in the States.
- [11:56]
Kaya
Oh, that didn't end up very well for me. And so like I said, modeling happened overnight. And I've never had anything like my mom is a biologist and professor, my dad had his own company. So no one in my family worked in the film industry or in entertainment, although my dad wanted to when he was younger. And so, you know, modeling happened like that. I did not had bad experience with agents or with people on photo shoots. So I, when I met Harvey Weinstein, I thought, you know, like, what can go wrong? Like this dude can be my grandfather.
- [12:36]
Nick Viall
No, you know, how did you meet him in the first place?
- [12:39]
Kaya
We met in a club called Butter. You know, a bunch of models were invited to like join the, you know how it is during the party. And he asked me if I ever thought about acting, that I have a, you know, advice for that and blah, blah, blah, the same spiel. And I, I was really happy, I was really excited because I thought, you know what? Now this is a transition that I want to do and someone sees that. So I, until the moment when we were in his apartment, I did not feel any kind of threat because I also had a really good relationship with my father.
- [13:18]
Nick Viall
Sure.
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Kaya
So, you know, there was.
- [13:20]
Nick Viall
And I imagine, you know, someone like him has that predatorial behavior, is probably very used to making people feel very comfortable at first, you know, and here you are, this young ambitious model. And like you said, it was almost like someone sees what I see in myself. They see that talent. And then I imagined before he started with the threats of his power and things like that, it was more just, you know, like the, have you ever thought about being an actor? You know, like you could really be great. And I see that potential and like, you know, that someone like him who was in that power position makes someone like yourself, especially as a 16 year old girl, you know, put their guard down. And it makes a lot of sense why, you know, there's no reason why you would immediately think, oh, why is this person gonna do harm to me?
- [14:12]
Kaya
And also, we met during the day, it was for lunch. So yeah, I really did not expect that it will turn out that way. And. Yeah, but it did.
- [14:27]
Dylan
So you, if you're okay to get into it.
- [14:31]
Kaya
Yeah.
- [14:32]
Dylan
I mean, you met him. I mean, I know at this point.
- [14:36]
Kaya
You met him at the club.
- [14:37]
Yeah.
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Dylan
And you were 16. How long did it take after you met for him to invite you to lunch?
- [14:44]
Kaya
A few days.
- [14:45]
Dylan
A few days. Okay, so you go to lunch and what's the conversation like? What is he, how is he acting?
- [14:51]
Kaya
He's talking about scripts and about films. And he was also on the phone for a little bit. So this made me feel a little bit uncomfortable. Let's say someone was sitting with me and being on the phone, but. But again, it seemed okay in a car until he said that he doesn't have time to go for lunch and we'll stop somewhere else. And that's when I was like, okay, well, that doesn't sound great. But he was, you know, 16 and 50. A person that runs Hollywood that is a better psychologist than most of psychologists or manipulator or narcissist, all of that, I think so. You know, it's hard to describe these situations and the feelings if someone have never experienced it. But that's why there are so many women still being raped and assaulted and there's so much domestic violence in relationships. Because it sounds very different on paper. It's very different than, you know, in reality. And then just happened very fast. He walked out of the car, he told me to follow him. So I did. And suddenly, you know, I realized that we are probably alone. I don't know, there was someone else and was hiding in his apartment.
- [16:12]
Dylan
It must have been really scary of just like when that door shut behind you. Of like, holy fuck, what have I gotten myself into? Like, how did I end up here? How do I get out? I bet you just immediately panicked.
- [16:22]
Kaya
Yeah, I did. And that's when I started to raise my voice and he told me to be quiet and he told me that I have to work on my stubbornness because actresses have to be obedient and have to listen to directors and to producers on set. You have to get naked. You have to get naked. Look at the films. I created a career of Penelope Cruz and Gwyneth Patrel. So, you know, having all these things in my head at 16, I lost touch with the reality of what's going on.
- [16:53]
Nick Viall
Yeah, I mean, like, like you said, I mean, on paper it might sound different for what people think, but. Yeah, again, thinking about, you know, trying to put myself as a 16 year old person. And you're like, oh, yeah. You know, you watch these movies and it's make believe and all these things and you try, you know, that's what you want to do. It's, it's scary just like how much power he had, not only in the position that he had, but what he was able to offer. You know, people who had this dream, you know, I mean, a dream that almost most people share. I mean, even people who don't want to be actors. If you came up to him and said, have you ever thought about being an actor? He'd be like, no, but like, I would love to be. You know, like. And so this is, you know, he really had this opportunity to really do a lot of damage and clearly he did.
- [17:38]
Kaya
Yes. And I think also the, I mean physically, like, he was very intimidating physically as well. You know, one thing that I really remembered for a long time was his voice. It was like Nosferatu, like a deep, overpowering voice that. Yeah, that is like a mind game. It's more, it's more than just sexual assault. Like, what he was doing with people were mind games. Not only with the women, but also with people that he was working with. I met a producer who almost switched his career and he's successful now because of the interaction that he had with Harvey. But I think that one reason, and I have not talked about this before, but I mean, I'm 39 enough, is because my mom was a bullying person. So that was something that I was used to in a way, you know, to just shut up. You have not much to say, and I know better. So that definitely was some kind of a path after, in my marriage. But, you know, meeting Harvey. Yeah.
- [18:50]
Nick Viall
And then I am, you know, after the incident happened in the first assault, I, I mean, and I, I've heard this from other people who have been victims where it's almost like you're. It almost feels like what, what just happened? Like, almost like, you know, it's. You're not even sure if like, did something happen? Did something just happen to me? Because again, of this kind of make believe scenario he almost created in this.
- [19:19]
Kaya
Environment, you know, he kept on saying, just keep it between us. You can't talk about this anywhere else. And again, as a straight A student, I was like, you told me to do that. I'm gonna do that. And I hope that right now, you know, the girls, young girls can see that a little bit differently because the conversation is open. We talk about this. But back then, I think the Internet was just starting out. The world was different. But all in all, I truly think that the manipulation, the mind game, and just my ambitions of wanting to achieve something, to make my. My mom proud made me keep the secret.
- [20:04]
Dylan
So what happened in that apartment?
- [20:07]
Kaya
He told me to take my clothes off. And then he made me touch him with my hand, and he touched me. It's not called rape. It's called sexual assault. But it was the first time that I was in an intimate situation with a man, with a person. But so that's like another level of trauma to that whole thing.
- [20:32]
Dylan
I mean, he took. Not only did he take that from you, but he took the first.
- [20:36]
Kaya
A lot of things. A lot of things, yeah.
- [20:39]
Dylan
So after all that happened, was he just like, okay, bye. Like, I'll see you soon.
- [20:45]
Kaya
He said. He said something about me behaving well, that I did that. That it has to stay between us, and that he'll, you know, he'll get back in touch. And so he did.
- [20:59]
Dylan
When did he get back in touch?
- [21:00]
Kaya
I was traveling, so I don't. I don't remember. It was so many years ago. But our next encounter, if you want to call it that way, was in 2004. Okay. And I was. I was going, I think, from a casting or from photo shoot to Jim. And he said that, you know, he can give me a lift to talk a little bit because he has a project. And in the car, he was again on the phone, and he. Name dropped. He said that he has a big problem because he's working on the Grimm Brothers with Heath Ledger and Matt Damon. And he started talking about this film and again about my future. And then he tried to put his hand on me, but I immediately backed off because there was a driver in the car. And I left the car and I said something. This is not what I want. Right. So that was that. And truly, I don't remember all of our conversations or emails. Even, you know, lately in court, they were able to pull up maybe two or three emails, but nothing more from that time. So I wasn't. It wasn't like I was regularly in touch with him. It was spread in certain occasions throughout the years. And I still. At that time, I still thought that I could be an actress. When we're talking about passions, it was always my passions. I still believe I could be a great one. But yeah, it was so painful because someone, that opinion I cared for, just at that point I started to think, treats me like a joke. Not only assaulted me, but on top of it treats me like a joke.
- [22:52]
Nick Viall
And yeah, so then obviously years had passed or this, you had to live with this trauma. And I imagine the, the idea of coming forward then almost seemed impossible or surreal.
- [23:07]
Kaya
Absolutely, absolutely. Plus, I was scared that if I would say this to someone and like I said before, we never had these kind of conversations at home. So I was scared that if I would say this to someone, they will say, oh my God, she's a slut. You know, blame it on me, blame it on the girl. How did you end up getting yourself in that situation? So I truly really took the guilt on me. Yeah.
- [23:33]
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- [23:56]
Dylan
That's because we love quints.
- [23:58]
Kaya
I am out of my fast fashion phase. I'm out of my trendy phase. I want good staple classics that will last me until the end of time. And quints has all of that. They have the kind of stuff you'll actually wear on repeat, like breathable flow knit polos, crisp cotton shirts and comfortable lightweight pants that somehow work for both weekend hangs and dressed up dinners. The best part, everything with Quince is half the cost of some of the brands. I have some really great linen clothes. It's summer, it's hot. You need to be in linen. Quince makes the best linen. They also for the winter, they have amazing cashmere sweaters. I have so many of them because they're so great, they're great quality and.
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- [24:37]
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- [24:53]
Kaya
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- [26:21]
Kaya
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- [27:18]
Nick Viall
It like fast forwarding to 2016? I think it was 2017, when the first accusations of Harvey and the world kind of woke up to who Harvey Weinstein really was, this monster and. Yeah, what was that like for you? Do you remember where you were the first time this became international news?
- [27:42]
Kaya
I didn't hear about it from, like, I didn't see it in the magazine at first, but someone who knew that I was scared of him. And there was one occasion when he was trying to storm into my hotel room. I was staying at Four Seasons. In the lobby, the receptionist, they called me, and they're like, this man is trying to storm into your room. We didn't allow him to do that, but it started to be really, like, crazy scary. And so this person that I told about this incident called me or sent me a text in 2017. I said, hey, I don't know what happened between you and him, but it sounded like something. And check this out. And then when I saw the articles, I was shaking. But, I mean, one thing that really spoke to me was seeing Gwyneth Patrol's name and her coming forward and saying that, you know, he did whatever he did, which is very interesting that right now he's calling her a liar in press. And I thought, you know, because for many years I thought, okay, I'm just a stupid Polish model. And so he could do these things to me. But to Gwyneth Patrol, I'm sure that she's just so talented and so beautiful. So she never had to, you know, she never experienced any of that. So it, for these all these years, I was really berating myself also because of that. And then seeing her name and accusation from so many women, like, oh, my God, he was just like a horrible predator that was hungry for, I think, like, purity. He could sense people that are not strong enough to say no. That's how I think. And he was definitely extremely turned on by fear, which is insane itself.
- [29:32]
Dylan
So did seeing all of these women, did that give you the courage to be like, oh, my God, me too? Like, it wasn't, you know, I, I, he did this to me too.
- [29:43]
Kaya
Yeah. Gave me the courage. But at the time, it's 2017. Right. So I got married in 2015. We moved to a. To a house. To a big house. And we were thinking about starting a family. So it was also really difficult to talk to my then husband about that. It's hard, right?
- [30:04]
Dylan
And you had told him what had happened or his name came in the media with all the allegations.
- [30:10]
Kaya
You hadn't? No. Wow. I had a difficult marriage as well. I'm very blessed that I have my son out of it, and, yeah, that's what I'm thankful for. But I don't. I think he didn't even want to hear what really happened. He just. He was like, don't save me, though.
- [30:32]
Nick Viall
Yeah, I'm sorry about that.
- [30:33]
Kaya
Thank you.
- [30:34]
Nick Viall
We've obviously heard so many horrible stories about how Harvey, as well connected as he was, had, like, hired muscle and people who intimidated people, Lineup of lawyers who, you know, maybe kind of not the more honorable type of lawyers.
- [30:53]
Kaya
Douchebags.
- [30:54]
Douchebags.
- [30:57]
Nick Viall
Did you face any of that intimidation from him or his people over the years to try to silence you?
- [31:05]
Kaya
No, he was trying to silence me. And then I've never. No, I've never heard it from lawyers, but. You mean after the news came?
- [31:13]
Nick Viall
Yeah, I just know. You know, I mean, from an outsider, just reading all the articles and the interviews where it just seemed like he. You know, it's. It seems to be a playbook as old as time from people like him who try to very much intimidate their victims. You know, and someone like him, he obviously had this wealth and power to literally hire people to do just that.
- [31:37]
Kaya
Well, in my case, he didn't have to hire people because my ex husband, who would love to see me probably drowning in the lake, reached out to him and said that he wants to collaborate with his team, along with my sister.
- [31:53]
Dylan
Your sister and your husband at the time?
- [31:56]
Kaya
Yeah, they reached out to the defense team, and they were reaching out to them before I got settlement in 2022.
- [32:04]
Dylan
Were you still married at this time?
- [32:06]
Kaya
No, I filed for divorce in 2022. So I flew from Poland after the borders were open, after Covid, the first occasion that I had. Of course, I didn't kidnap my son, but I told my husband that we're going for two months, and I thought, okay, this is my chance to escape from that hell. And so I did. And after three months in the United States and receiving 80,000 text messages and phone calls for, I think, two months. And within two months, I got about 80,000 messages from my ex husband scaring me, asking me to forgive him, asking me to go bagged and telling me he's gonna kill me. Like all these sorts of mixed stuff. And I filed for divorce. But I was scared. Even as a psychologist, even as a person that already stepped forward against Harvey, you know, being in a situation like this with your spouse was. Was very scary.
- [33:01]
Dylan
Why was it hell the relationship?
- [33:02]
Kaya
Because he was aggressive. He was extremely physically and emotionally aggressive. And, you know, again, as a psychologist, I should know better, but it's not like that when you're in the situation and on the outside. My husband was very handsome. You know, a little bit older than me, but not much older. He had money. Everything was perfect. We had a perf. Beautiful house with dogs and cats, you know, amazing. And then behind the closed door, he was just. You would. He never drink. He never took drugs, which I think is almost worse because it was just.
- [33:40]
Dylan
That's just who he was.
- [33:41]
Kaya
Yeah.
- [33:41]
Dylan
Nothing made him like that.
- [33:42]
Kaya
Yeah. Yeah. And, you know, at the beginning, it was like pushing me or, or twisting my arm. And this sounds horrible, but. But I kept on telling myself, it will change once we'll have a child. It will change once we'll. This will happen. It will change. But then when he did that to me when I was pregnant, I started to be like, really scared. And then when I saw like, his contact with our son, which was also aggressive, and you know, saying to a one year old kid, you're not going to be stubborn, you're not going to be capricious. Like, if I give you that to eat, you got to eat that. And I'm like, back the fuck off. Yeah. What? Sorry.
- [34:31]
Nick Viall
Yeah.
- [34:32]
Kaya
And then, you know, when I saw that, I'm like, no way I can continue this.
- [34:37]
Dylan
It's one thing when it's to you, it's another thing when it's to your child.
- [34:41]
Kaya
Yeah.
- [34:41]
Nick Viall
Did you first open up to your ex husband about the trauma that Harvey placed on you? And then how did you find out that he went behind your back?
- [34:52]
Kaya
So in 2022, when we were working on the, you know, we're working on settlement, I, you know, there was an affidavit made by someone else that he sent to the lawyers, and my lawyer got to know about that. So he was working with them from 2022, which finally escalated before the criminal trial. He can't come to America because he's been convicted and he was. What's the word? Deported. Deported. So he can't come here. That's why I also chose New York, because it's like, okay, I can be sure he can't get you yeah, that he can save here. I mean, you guys are successful. Money can bring a lot of joy, but it also can be sometimes, you know, a cause of problems. My sister, I guess, thought that I can be a milking cow for the family, for her. And at one point, like, she did enough. And at one point I said, no, no, I'm not gonna take you to Hawaii for vacation. Yeah, for four of us. Like, I'm not. Who do you think I am? And yeah, I'm not an assis also, although I would love to be that rich. And that's basically when she turned. Turned her back and started changing her testimonies. And.
- [36:15]
Dylan
And so did she think she would get money from his team or. She would.
- [36:20]
Kaya
I mean, I guess everyone can answer themselves to this question, but she reached out to them and had many meetings before the trial. And there was this part about my journal. She probably had about 10 or 20 journals, and she chose one thing that's not even a diary. Like, you know, the. The depth of the betrayal and like, the need to, I don't know, like, destroy me. Yeah.
- [36:48]
Dylan
How did she gain access to your journals?
- [36:50]
Kaya
When I flew Poland, I left everything in. In boxes because I basically packed two luggages, like in rush. Till the moment that I was in the plane with my son, I didn't know what my ex would do. Like, there was one moment, second that we were at the airport, he was holding my son, and he was like, you sure you're coming back? And he was so scary. And I had to act. I had to act. I mean, and I said, yeah, of course. Of course I'm back. Knowing that I probably won't. If I can, I won't. And it was the first few months in United States when we got here were very intense as well, because I was working start, I mean, meeting with the lawyers regarding Weinstein. I had to find a way to legally stay here. And that's why I filed for asylum papers. I filed criminal case against my ex husband in Poland. And I just. I started to go like full on in this mode that if I'm saying A, I might just say the whole Alphabet. Like there's nothing anymore that can scare me. I guess.
- [37:54]
Dylan
Why hold back?
- [37:55]
Kaya
Yeah. And that was also a big part of why I decided. Decided to be in the criminal trial. I felt stronger already. Right. And it just felt like the right thing to do.
- [38:07]
Dylan
So when did you find out that your sister was working for them?
- [38:10]
Kaya
I had suspicions. So her best friend, who actually was in my apartment in 2006, so they know each other for 20 years. More than 20 years. 20 to 19. He works for Arthur Idella, who is Harvey's defense lawyer. And so I started to sense that. And after. In August of last year, we testified in front of the grand jury, which was very stressful for me as well, because it was the first time that I spoke publicly about the other incident that happened when I was 19.
- [38:44]
Dylan
The one in the car?
- [38:46]
Kaya
No, the one in hotel where he raped me. Oh, my God. Yeah. And there was a hall of her. My sister was there with me at the restaurant. That's why she was testifying. And her testimony in front of the grand jury was basically saying that I was extremely tensed and I didn't speak at all after I got back to her. And then on stand, she testified something completely else. So she was almost impeached because the prosecutors were saying, hey, wait a second. You want to read your testimony from the grand jury? That's not what you said. And during the trial, because she was prepared for. From the defense, she started saying that I looked more like someone who's waiting for an Oscar and doesn't know what the outcome will be.
- [39:38]
Nick Viall
Oh, that must have been.
- [39:40]
Kaya
Yeah, no, that is something that hurt me absolutely. The most. The most. Because, you know, I've heard stories of families, let's say, going bad, but if you experience that it's your own blood, it's. It's horrible.
- [39:57]
Dylan
So you were just sitting in. In court listening to your sister?
- [40:01]
Kaya
No, I couldn't. I couldn't be there. But after I got the transcripts from the. From the court hearings, and I read what she was saying, it was like stabbed in the heart over and over again. And, you know, in the end, they openly say that your husband, your ex husband reached out to us, and then your sister reached out to us. And I'm like, I hope they paid her well. You know, were y' all close?
- [40:24]
Dylan
I mean, I know she was older than you.
- [40:26]
Kaya
We were never really close because, like, when she was 18 or 19, she left to Italy. She was not living with us. Then I started modeling, and there was always jealousy. There was always jealousy. You know, I said, maybe this was something that. I don't know. There was just this house. Dynamics of being competitive with each other. Yeah. Which is crazy because we're all different. And, you know, she's a doctor. I'm a. Was a model. No, I'm a psychologist. But, yeah, I don't. I. I just. I honestly, I don't know if some. There are a lot of people asking me why did she do that? I honestly don't know. I don't know. Why would someone do something like this? I mean, I get my ex husband. Right, Right.
- [41:08]
Nick Viall
But the best you can assume is just the money and jealousy and. Yeah, yeah.
- [41:12]
Kaya
At age. It's not the first time that she betrayed me. So it's not like something that was completely, surprisingly shocking.
- [41:18]
Dylan
Did you talk to your parents about that or.
- [41:21]
Kaya
Well, I talked to my dad, but he's dead, so he can't answer. But yeah, he's the. He's the only one that I talked to about that. And then I still have. I'm still in touch with some of my family from. From Poland, like aunts and, you know, but it's been so many. I've been here three and a half years, almost four years, and I have not seen them in these four years. And, you know, I'm like building a whole different life.
- [41:48]
Dylan
Is there a part of you that's scared to go back to Poland?
- [41:52]
Kaya
Just don't see any reason to go back there? Honestly, I wouldn't. I wouldn't want to. It's just. There's too much pain connected to this country and. Yeah. And it's just. It's. It's coming back to the surface when I think about it. And there are so many beautiful places in the world that I would rather see.
- [42:14]
Nick Viall
How many different times did you experience assault from Harvey?
- [42:18]
Kaya
Well, the. Two times. Two times that I can call assault.
- [42:22]
Nick Viall
And then just for the. So that. So the audience knows. Because, you know, you mentioned the journal. It was. The way she tried to use that against you is because she took this one specific journal that referenced other assaults or other trauma that you experienced, but not the ones with Harvey. So they tried to imply that if Harvey had done something, something to you, it should be in this specific journal.
- [42:50]
Kaya
Yeah, but, you know, I was very consistent with my testimony in front of prosecutors and Grand Jerry, I told at the beginning that I've never said anything to anyone before 2017. The journal was written in 2015. And it was for people who are familiar with AA steps. And, you know, you write resentments and you write your fault in the whole situation, his fault. And what would be different? And my sponsor was a film producer. And as these other two men, I was not raped by them. They were sexually aggressive to me. And that's what the journal said. But nothing happened. And, you know, and I never spoke or saw them again. So it's just a completely different story. Like, Harvey assaulted me twice, but also what he did to me Psychologically was very important to me. So it's both of these things. So, yeah, I guess that's it. That's what happened. And it could not be explained. Well, I have not seen this journal. I don't know, nine years, 10 years. And so I was like, completely in shock when they showed it to me in court. And I kept on asking, like, how did you got it? Where did you got it? I say, from my sister. So that was one point. I never asked for breaks when I was on stand, but that was one point when I did ask for a break.
- [44:22]
Nick Viall
The most recent trial for Harvey just recently ended.
- [44:25]
Kaya
Yep.
- [44:27]
Nick Viall
And there were three victims, including yourself, who came forward with their stories of their assault. And if I got this right, he was convicted on one of them, there was a mistrial on the other, and then was acquitted on your charges. However, it seemed like all the victims credited you, obviously. Is that the belief that while maybe he wasn't convicted on your charges, that without your testimony he might have been able to beat all of them? That being said, what was that, that feeling like, or the impact for you having to go through all this trauma, relive this experience, having to be cross examination, having to have betrayal of your family? Were you still able to feel victorious in this despite his acquittal? And I guess, psychologically, what was that like? It must be kind of a mind fuck to try to, you know, see a silver lining in such a horseshit of a situation. Yeah, I mean, just like, what, what was that like?
- [45:35]
Kaya
Yeah, when I got, when I heard the news, I froze. And I was like, this is not happening. When I first heard the verdict, this is not happening. And immediately I got so upset at my sister and at that because it really was a work, a lot of work from the whole DA's office. Like so many people were involved. And, you know, I've been listening to these people. First time in 2020, now in 2024, I have repeated my story many, many times. So, I mean, what I'm saying is that I guess in a way, which is. Which is might sound strange, but. But in a way, if they would just say you testified the way we prepared you or the way, you know, we spoke about this, they didn't found him guilty. It would be hard, but it would be like, maybe you just don't believe me, but I know for certain that this one, because the jurors were talking about this, it was the journal and her sister. So I was just really mad at her, really mad at her and, and, and, and extremely hurt um, but you know, then when I thought about this, when I think about this in a big picture, I really, really, I am happy that I testified, I told my what happened and I can just close this fucking hell of a chapter of my life and find love and have another baby and a big production company. That's my future. So, you know, yeah, it's sometimes you gotta close one doors to let the other ones, the other open. And I think that it was just like slowly bleeding in my life for many years now. So it feels like it's okay, done, it's relieving in a way. And I'm, and I'm really happy that he's found guilty and he won't leave jail.
- [47:33]
Nick Viall
Yeah. I mean, safe to say he's going to die in prison.
- [47:37]
Kaya
Yeah. Not that we wish him to die. We wish him a long life full of misery and suffering.
- [47:43]
Dylan
He doesn't get a cheap out by dying.
- [47:46]
Kaya
Have you thought about if at any.
- [47:50]
Dylan
Point you telling your son about what has happened? I mean, obviously this is all over the media. Your name is in it, Harvey Weinstein's name is in it. Is that something that you've thought about or are you kind of like, I'll cross that bridge when I need to.
- [48:03]
Kaya
I told him a little bit and I told him enough so that he thinks I'm a superhero and a badass. Yes, of course. As he should. As he should. I think he knows that much. And yeah, I think he thinks secretly that I'm like a FBI agent or a police officer. Yeah, there you go. But, but he's. No, he's, I think he's too young. He's too young. He's six years old. Once he will start asking like the way I try to raise him is that I don't tell him too much if he doesn't ask. And if he asks about something, I answer directly to that question. And if you will want to know more, I will tell him more. But you know, his brain has to put it, put the pieces together by himself at a certain point.
- [48:52]
Nick Viall
One stat that I found just shocking, I think we hear as, as, as the world has more of these conversations about assault and just how prevalent it is and how, how many brave women have come forward to start having these conversations. I don't think people realize just how many predators like Harvey face justice. I think the stat is less than 1%.
- [49:18]
Kaya
It's 0.7%.
- [49:19]
Nick Viall
Yeah, yeah. I mentioned obviously that Natalie obviously is a victim as well. I have a lot of women friends over the years of My life have, you know, in conversations, mentioned. I mean, I don't quite honestly, it's like, I don't know a single woman in my life who doesn't have some kind of story. If it's not something as horrific as rape, there's some story, like I would say 100% of the women I know have a story about a bad incident with a man where they were made to feel even just really uncomfortable, scared, unsafe. And then obviously there's far more horrible situations. Almost none of these men have to face consequences. As someone who's gone through the legal system, what have you learned? And clearly, clearly there needs to be a lot of changes. Like, obviously, the system is still flawed. The process of women or victims in general getting justice is flawed. As someone who's gone through it, what are things that you would like to see change? Or what are some things that could benefit victims so that they can feel more empowered to come forward? Because it seems too easy for the people who are victimizing people to do even more damage to the victims who do come forward because there seems to be such a playbook of harassment to put them on trial in the court of public opinion. Now you see things like, you can bully people online. You can. The astroturfing, just that playbook of going after people. As someone who's been through it, what would you like to see changed?
- [51:00]
Kaya
Well, so I spoke a lot with my lawyers and with the prosecutors about this whole. The system and the situation. And the system is designed to help the defendant because in the end, their life is in stakes for, like, you know, life in prison or whatever else, but only in situations of sexual. Sexual assaults and sex crimes, the victims are kind of being on trial, not, you know, the person that committed the crime. So I don't think. I honestly don't think that there has. There can be a lot done with the criminal justice system, but I do think that even going to, you know, some authorities and sharing it with someone can help because you don't feel alone. I mean, the worst part about. You can say if I'm right or no, but the worst part about sexual assault is that you feel alone with that. And it's like you're locking yourself in your own prison, your mind, your soul. It's like hurting. And so being able to share it is already, I think, very important. And, yeah, being able to share it.
- [52:13]
Nick Viall
Have there been any. Just anything you can offer? You know, I'm sure there's. Most of this audience are women. And so sadly, we can assume many of Them have again a story. And someone listening to this might be feeling that loneliness. What can you offer them? Or just suggestions to find that courage to reach out to someone or if there's groups out there available to reach out to, what would you say to them?
- [52:39]
Kaya
I would say talk to the first person that you feel safe with. If it's a group of strangers like Al Anon even. These are programs that are designed for spouses of alcoholics. But there you can hear a lot of domestic violence stories. So if there are strangers like that, go for it. If these are people that you know, do it. Like in my case, I was, let's say pushed a little bit first by my friend to reach out to the lawyers and then in Poland, what allowed me to speak is that my boss at the time saw aggression of my husband and he started asking me what's going on, you know, do you want to talk about this? And I remember crying, sobbing, being like, I can't hold it in anymore. So opening up is like the most, the most difficult thing but the most important because it's never going to get better. Like if you're in a situation where someone is perpetually abusing their status or position or their power or the relationship that you're in, it's not going to get better unless someone will get a solid treatment. But I don't know the statistics, but I think they're very poor in success rate.
- [53:53]
Nick Viall
Yeah.
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Nick Viall
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Kaya
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Kaya
Go to upwork.com that's up w o r k.com.
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- [55:15]
Kaya
It's also delicious so if you're trying to cut back on alcohol, especially at the end of a long day, it's.
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Dylan
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Kaya
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Kaya
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- [56:14]
Nick Viall
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- [56:15]
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Nick Viall
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- [56:41]
Kaya
You obviously we've been traveling a ton and travel always throws off my routine. But with Symbiotica the supplements come with me. They're the cutest little packets. So easy to throw in my bag or your luggage. It's not. You're not lugging around a bunch of pills. I never thought I'd look forward to taking my supplements, but it's honestly one of the best parts of my morning. Now if you've been feeling off lately, give this a try. It's made a huge difference for me it's one of the small things that helps me feel more like me and show up for the people in my life. Nick and I honestly have this cute little ritual where every single day we just cheers and take our little Symbiotica.
- [57:09]
Dylan
Packets, and it's really cute.
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Nick Viall
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- [57:29]
Kaya
With symbiotica, go to symbiotica.com vill for 20% off plus free shipping. That's symbiotica.com village for 20 off plus free shipping.
- [57:41]
Nick Viall
So now that this is finally behind you, the trial is done. What is next for you and how are you going about. I mean, first of all, I imagine there's an almost another healing process, you know, from the trial, I mean, or may or not, or is.
- [57:58]
Kaya
There is.
- [58:00]
Nick Viall
Yeah. So what is next for you and how do you plan on trying to get through all the trauma that you had to relive by, you know, going to. Going through with this trial?
- [58:09]
Kaya
I. I started to notice that I definitely like to spend time in solace and, you know, just reading and playing with my animals. I have five animals, even in an apartment in New York as possible, two dogs and three cats. And, you know, just playing with my kid. Like, my. I think my son thinks, like, I'm his age sometimes, because. Mom, how are you so silly? Like, you're so funny. Yeah, you're lucky. Yeah. But, like, being able to, like, not think and just follow instincts and, like, I dance, I sing. Not gonna do that to you. Don't worry. But all these things that are, like, really, you know, simple and childish and don't involve thinking, overthinking are very healing. But also, you know, working on the things that I wanted to do for so long, and it was like, pushed back, push back, push back. But I'm a Taurus. I don't know if you believe in Zodiac, but I'm a terribly stubborn person. So when I have a goal, I'm like, I'm going to try everything. And if finally we'll be like, no, we can't do it. Never happened to me yet. But, yeah, it's working. But, yeah. So, like, really being able to be in this, because films and entertainment, like, what we're doing here is very important. What you guys are doing here is very important. But it's also kind of a fantasy, right, because we, you know, we create another world. And I mean, being creative was always such a huge part of me of who I was. And writing poetry, making clothes, trying to write books, scripts, you know, always something that helped me express myself. So being able to do that right now is. Is amazing. And I keep on repeating myself that I'm doing good, that, you know what, that you're okay. One of, like, this big successes was getting a literary agent in. In New York. And Sterling Lord has been a company for many, many years. They represented Jack Burrack Pushed on the Road to Be, you know, published Silver Lining Playbook, which. I love the film, love the film. And so to, you know, to be able to say that I have the same agent as them and I'm Polish and I'm, you know, here. It's a big deal for me. It really is. And then when you asked me how I felt when I heard the verdict, it was horrible. But I remembered. So during the trial, the first film that I'm the executive producer of started shooting. Right now. We're wrapping up, we're finishing shooting, and we're going to post production. But that gave me also so much strength. And seeing him there and him being, you know, miserable in a wheelchair and still denying, like, I didn't do that. I didn't do that. And, like, just take it to the blackboard, like, please.
- [61:10]
Nick Viall
Yeah. Did you find almost solace how kind of pathetic he looked in court?
- [61:15]
Kaya
Yeah.
- [61:15]
Nick Viall
Yeah.
- [61:16]
Kaya
And him, like, shaking his head, no, never happened. Never happened. Oh, my God. This was. It was just. Yeah.
- [61:25]
Nick Viall
You know, again, on the personal level of him not being convicted on. On the charges you brought forward, obviously there's pain in that. But at the same time, in a weird way, if you're looking at a silver lining, just like, with media being what it is in terms of, like, there's just so much of it every day. Everything moves fast. I feel like the. The final memory of this kind of all this trial will be two things. One, Harvey's in prison and he'll die in prison. And two, it'll be his victims standing together in solidarity. And I feel like as history go, you know, as time plays on, people won't care or think about what he was or convicted for and what was a mistrial everyone believes. I feel like at this point that he is a monster. And then the women brave enough to come forward will see you as you know, as heroes and people who have advocated for other victims and shown the courage that you have. And him being behind bars as a symbol of people like him can face justice. So I feel like there's a huge silver lining there. I wonder if you see it that way as well.
- [62:38]
Kaya
Of course. And I actually made a comment about that because there was a small press conference after the verdict and my lawyers asked me, do you want to say something? And I was like, yeah, it's a victory. It's a victory for us. And so I spoke about it and then he's. Harvey Weinstein's lawyers started to put chariots on me being like, what she's proud of, like, she's taking the victory that's not her own. And like, don't. My comment was don't try to separate women and split us in parts because there's no victory for them. There's no victory. And so, yeah, that, that is very important. And funny enough, I. I truly think that not that many people understand, like, what he's acquitted, what he's guilty. It's just, you know, like, when I think about the LA trial, I don't know what he was guilty of or not. I've heard. Not on every tribe, but I mean, he was found guilty. That's important. Yeah.
- [63:36]
Dylan
Have you connected with the other women in this last trial and have y' all kind of maybe even became friends? I mean, this is something obviously that unfortunately three of you have in common.
- [63:48]
Kaya
Yeah.
- [63:49]
Dylan
But as you were talking about, feeling alone is. Is one of the. The hardest things to go through after sexual assault and having, I bet these two women who know what it's like. Have you been able to connect with them at all?
- [64:01]
Kaya
Yes. Okay. Yeah. So I know Jessica for two. I've met her two years ago. And we didn't stay in touch during the preparation for the trial because we couldn't. But we started speaking again now. And there's another girl called Tara Le, who was in the first trial and she was big support and help. And I know she spoke to Cassie and she was helping her. So I think, like, we start to have this, you know, this connection. I went to court for Cassie, although I don't know her personally, but I know how important it is to see faces that you know, you know, understand you truly. And we had the same lawyer, so that's also why I went there. Yeah.
- [64:45]
Nick Viall
Another high profile case that's going on right as now, as we speak is the P. Diddy case. And, and like Harvey, he seems like he's Another monster with a long list of victims. Do you feel like the bravery that you women have showed to put Harvey behind bars has played a role in men like P. Diddy having to face justice and his victims being able to finally come forward?
- [65:13]
Kaya
Absolutely. I think, you know, if nobody would say anything, nothing would change. That's as simple as it is. Right. So women starting to talk about these things. And so for Harvey's trial, this one, there are more women that the DA was thinking about talking. But finally, I think two others were. The grand jury didn't find him guilty. So these things can be discouraging. But still, I believe it's very important to step forward. Absolutely. You know, we probably single handedly could not, cannot change the world, but if nobody will do anything, that nothing will change.
- [65:51]
Nick Viall
Do you want to just put all this behind you and just kind of move forward? And you mentioned you have your production company, or do you see yourself continuing to be an advocate in the space?
- [66:04]
Kaya
I think that with my dad being my dad, at him being always advocate for people, I think I just have it in me. You shall not silence me. But, but I don't know, I don't, I don't see myself as like, you know, the next big advocate. I want to do my, my things and I, I will always help people if they will reach out and if they will ask me for help. Because that's what I've been doing in Poland for many years, you know, working as a therapist. That's why I talk right now so much. I used to listen all the time. So I'm like, give me the mic.
- [66:42]
But I also, like, this is, that's.
- [66:45]
Dylan
Part of it, you know, like, you are speaking about your case and you're doing it. And like you, by speaking about it here, you're telling the women who are sitting at home that they're not alone.
- [66:56]
Kaya
Right.
- [66:56]
Dylan
So you're sitting here advocating whether, like, it's this big thing or not, like you're doing it.
- [67:01]
Kaya
Yeah. And I think it's what it's really important. I joke a lot, as you see, and I think it's important to show that, you know, nobody, if they would see us on the street, would say, oh my God, these are the victims of sexual assaults. Right, Right. Because there's also this perception, I think, with some people that victims of sexual assaults, of domestic violence have to be miserable and have to be like crying in agony. And of course, there is a moment, there are moments when this happens, but in general, like, I want to enjoy my life. I'm glad I did that. It, it's passed by me. If my story can help, that's great and I think that. But this attitude can also give hope to others that you know, that you can get out of that situation and still be victorious. And I believe that I'm also doing this for my 16 year old self. I really am. The more I think about it and talk about this and I remember myself at 16 thinking like it's all impossible. It's impossible to be in a marriage, it's impossible to be an actress. Then it's impossible to talk about this with anyone would have happened. And like it is possible. It takes a lot, but it is possible.
- [68:14]
Dylan
I never, you know, talked. I never named the two men who raped me. But I, you know, am at a place now where like I have my daughter and I feel like my daughter healed the young girl that I was when all of that happened to me. And you know, I obviously there's several ways that people, you know, handle this. Whether it's it is the legal way or you know, unfortunately the way that I did it, which was a lot of trauma and caused definitely a life long of issues that I have to continue to work on. But I really do feel like my daughter saved and healed so much of me. Do you feel like your son had a big part in that for you?
- [68:58]
Kaya
Yes, for sure. And I really love what you said, that there are many ways to deal with it. Justice system is the, let's say hardcore way because also it's a lengthy process and it's usually, I mean public in a way. You have to speak with a lot of people. But I mean my sound has definitely like saved a lot. Like you know, I don't think about myself at first. Whatever I do, I think about doing it for him. But it gives me pleasure because loving him gives me love. Yeah. Yeah. And so yes, for me also a child was son was extremely helpful to go through difficult things and he was my motivation. I don't know if I would be able to leave this marriage if I wouldn't have him. Yeah, it just goes, you know, go deeper in the spiral.
- [69:47]
Dylan
Yeah. Like you said, it took you seeing your ex husband doing it to your son to be like, you know, you were going to.
- [69:54]
Kaya
Yeah. Put up with it.
- [69:55]
Dylan
So that is, it's, it's incredibly strong of you to have seen that before it escalated and get your son out of that situation and give him a safe and happy and healthy life. It was very strong. You should be very proud of yourself.
- [70:09]
Kaya
Thank you. I Am. But also in September, we had a. There was another court case that was. I mean, even bigger than Harvey's case for me because it was in federal court in New York, and my husband was trying to force me to bring our son back to Poland, and the process took two years. That's a long trial. And after the trial, you know, the judge said that I was very credible, and she believed what I said, but he's an unreformed narcissist, and he causes grave risk of harm for my son and me. So that was. Yeah, also when I'm thinking about losing or winning or whatever in this case, I keep on reminding myself, like, I've went through that, and we won. And that's. That was the most important case for me for sure.
- [71:05]
Nick Viall
Do you feel like you're able to live without fear knowing that your husband, even though a world away, is still who he is, and I'm guessing someone that. That you consider very much dangerous and a threat?
- [71:22]
Kaya
After the verdict? And again, it's connected to my sister, and at the verdict, it says I had a lot of anxiety, and I was locking all my locks and doors. And, yeah, it's. You know, psychos are freaking dangerous. But I live in a building with guards and, you know, nice security, so I hope it will be safe. But. But definitely, I mean, I know that people that are vicious and people that want to hurt you, and this is their mission in life. Unfortunately, there are people like this. They will continue to try to do that. So I'm not. You know, I hope that nothing bad will happen, but I think I'm pretty strong. I'm stronger right now, and I'm starting some big boxing.
- [72:08]
Dylan
No one should want to fuck with you.
- [72:09]
Kaya
Yeah. Yeah.
- [72:12]
Nick Viall
Your relationship with your sister, is that pretty much done. Done.
- [72:16]
Kaya
Done. And you know what? This is also a relief because she has done a lot of shit to me, a lot of bad things. But I kept on thinking a family should stick together. And like, my friends, my lawyers were telling me, you got to cut her off. You got to cut her off for a long time before even last year, but I was still like, no, no, I. I can't. But right now I'm like, yeah, I can. I can.
- [72:45]
Dylan
What were the other ways that she betrayed you?
- [72:47]
Kaya
Oh, my God. She. She slept with a guy who proposed to me.
- [72:53]
Nick Viall
Oh, geez.
- [72:54]
Kaya
What? Yeah. I mean, if I'm talking about this, I'm gonna talk about this. Yeah. I mean, yeah, she stole a lot of money from my bank account. She went behind my back with my Ex husband. Like so many things. And I mean, she falsificated medical documents and sent them to the prosecutors who said, we can obviously see that this is made up.
- [73:21]
Dylan
Oh, my.
- [73:22]
Nick Viall
Did she have to face any consequences for.
- [73:24]
Kaya
I'm, I'm. I'm working on that.
- [73:26]
Nick Viall
Okay.
- [73:27]
Kaya
Because. Yeah, this.
- [73:28]
Nick Viall
Yeah. Maybe just another silver lining. Is painful as it was to hear about your sister's betrayal with the journal, knowing that there were so many other ones. Like you said, I mean, it's tough with family, right, because it's like you only have one. Everyone tells you to look the other way or look for forgiveness, but clearly she is a threat to you. And it took maybe this revelation and this type of betrayal for you to realize or find that strength despite so many people telling you to cut her off. Cut her off. And maybe that's the victory as well.
- [74:05]
Kaya
Oh, for sure. Like, really opening my eyes on what the situation is. And like, this is like to telenovela with everything that has. Has been happening, but it is my life. And, you know, now she's blocked. I deleted her number. She's blocked. But the last time it was before the trial she sent me. I think I posted something about Eden Express and amazing people that are doing this movie. I was so lucky to be a part of that. Jonah Howard King is playing the lead part. We have another great actor who I can't talk about right now just yet. Daniel Beckerman is producing it. He produced the Apprentice, and they went, you know, very well with that. And so I made a post about that and she texted me, like, what kind of a lie and illusion are you living in? Every time something good happens or I'm chatty, she has to take it from me. She tries to, you know, but. And I think that even if it's. Maybe that's also an important message, even if it's family or your close friend who does something like that, like, we should not allow that.
- [75:09]
Nick Viall
As we get older, we have to realize, you know, it's. You feel very lucky to have family that if. If they aren't toxic or a threat to you. But, you know, you. Whether it's friends or people, you have to sometimes set hard boundaries and cut people off because it's. It's a sad reality. But yeah, like, sometimes we hold on too long. But it's nice to hear that you're finally free of all this. And it really sounds like everything you've been through and. And certainly that's a lot. And you've fought and hard not only for yourself, but for so many Other people. It really feels like, you know, the future is very bright for you and there's a lot of optimism ahead. And now you can focus on your son and focus on your career and your production company. And you must be very excited just to move things forward.
- [75:58]
Kaya
Oh, yes, I am. I am. I think I'm going to go back, actually to acting lessons. Yeah. Which I did last year. And it was also part of the. Part of the trial. They asked me about acting schools and I said I went to Stella Adler last year to kind of like, you know, remember everything. And they were like, you were trying to prepare for the testimony. Yeah. But anyway, like, I'm glad that we can all laugh about it because you guys are talking about difficult subjects with such an ease and that's what I saw before in the podcast and I love that.
- [76:35]
Nick Viall
Well, we appreciate you giving us this opportunity and sharing your story, and I.
- [76:39]
Dylan
Feel grateful to have you speaking about something that I am not able to do. And I'm very grateful to have you leading this charge. You know, you're a great person to do it, and I'm very.
- [76:51]
Kaya
You want to be best friends? I do. I do.
- [76:54]
Nick Viall
Well, thank you again. We really sincerely appreciate it. Thank you for your bravery sharing your story. Best of luck with everything in the future. And again, also, just congratulations on what is a victory for you and for so many victims out there.
- [77:09]
Kaya
Thank you. I truly appreciate. And I'm. I'm very happy to learn what I've learned today. And. Yeah, stay in touch. And what.
- [77:18]
And you have your production company.
- [77:20]
Dylan
Is there anything else you want to plug? Let our audience know where they can find you.
- [77:24]
Kaya
Well, my book should be out in 2026. It's about overcoming trauma through self forgiveness. And it's a book not about Harvey. Just so we know that it's about. It's a book about my journey as a psychotherapist and also my personal struggles. But I think that the book is supposed to elevate the positive of all of the bad situations that are coming. And yeah, I have few interesting projects. Another film that I am very excited, but we're just starting pre production, so there's still time.
- [78:03]
Nick Viall
Well, thank you again. We very much appreciate it.
- [78:06]
Kaya
Awesome.
- [78:06]
Dylan
For any victims who are listening who might be struggling with this topic might need some help. We have some resources down below in the bio or in the description of the show if you want to click those. Thanks, everyone.
- [78:17]
Kaya
Bye. Bye.
- [78:31]
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