Today, Explained: The Harvey Weinstein Apologist

Episode Release Date: May 5, 2025
Hosts: Sean Rameswaram and Noel King
Part of the Vox Media Podcast Network

Introduction

In this episode of Today, Explained, host Noel King delves into the resurgence of Harvey Weinstein in the public eye following the overturning of his 2020 conviction. The episode explores the intriguing rise of Candace Owens, a prominent far-right commentator, who has taken up Weinstein's defense, sparking significant discourse and garnering a substantial following.

Harvey Weinstein's Conviction Overturned

The episode opens with Noel King highlighting the legal developments surrounding Harvey Weinstein:

Noel King [00:01]: "Harvey Weinstein is back in court this week. An appeals court overturned his 2020 conviction in New York, saying he hadn't gotten a fair trial and so his accusers must now testify again."

The overturning of Weinstein's conviction marks a pivotal moment, questioning the integrity of the initial trial and reopening the door for new testimonies from his accusers.

Candace Owens: Background and Rise

Candace Owens, known for her provocative stances, emerges as a central figure in this narrative. Originally identifying as fairly liberal, Owens' trajectory took a sharp turn post-2016, influenced by personal experiences with bullying and her foray into combating online harassment. Her early venture, Social Autopsy, aimed to expose online bullies by linking their abusive comments to their real-life identities. This approach, however, attracted significant backlash and aligned her with far-right personalities like Milo Yiannopoulos and Mike Cernovich.

Owens' personal history includes traumatic experiences that shaped her worldview:

E.J. Dixon [02:22]: "One night I was sitting on a couch with my boyfriend... I was out of school for about six weeks."

These formative events propelled her into the spotlight, leveraging her experiences to build a platform that resonated with a growing audience disillusioned with mainstream narratives.

Owens' Shift to Defending Weinstein

Transitioning to a more conservative stance, Owens began leveraging platforms like YouTube and PragerU to disseminate her views. Her outspoken defense of controversial figures, including Kanye West and Andrew Tate, set the stage for her latest advocacy: defending Harvey Weinstein.

Her rhetoric often challenges prevailing movements like MeToo and Black Lives Matter, positioning herself as a counter-narrative:

E.J. Dixon [05:05]: "Women are not an oppressed class in the West. There is no rape culture in the West."

Owens' alignment with Weinstein stems from her belief in his wrongful conviction, mirroring arguments presented by his legal team.

Strategies and Content Style

Owens employs a strategic content creation approach, blending journalistic language with sensationalism to captivate her audience. She adeptly distills complex issues into digestible narratives, often utilizing user-generated content from platforms like Reddit and TikTok to support her claims.

Constance Grady highlights Owens' effectiveness in shaping her message:

Constance Grady [11:25]: "She's very good at distilling very complicated ideas into very simple packages."

This method not only broadens her reach but also fosters a sense of credibility, despite criticisms regarding the reliability of her information.

Audience and Cultural Shifts

Owens' growing popularity is reflective of broader cultural shifts, particularly a backlash against feminist movements and the MeToo movement. Grady attributes Owens' success to tapping into anti-feminist sentiments among Gen Z women, who express frustration with perceived overreach of previous feminist waves:

Constance Grady [12:50]: "The metric is who is keeping eyeballs on the page. Who's saying the most shocking thing, who's saying the most extreme thing, who's packaging this in the best way."

This cultural undercurrent creates fertile ground for Owens' narrative, positioning her as a voice for those disenchanted with traditional feminist discourse.

Impact and Broader Implications

The episode examines the implications of Owens' defense of Weinstein, noting how it aligns with Susan Faludi's concept of backlash against women's progress. Each advancement in women's rights is often met with swift resistance aiming to reinstate traditional norms.

Noel King [25:32]: "Every time that in American culture it looks as though women are making some sort of social or political progress, that's very rapidly followed by a period of intense backlash."

Owens' influence extends beyond her immediate audience, affecting public figures such as Joe Rogan, who admits to rethinking Weinstein's guilt after engaging with Owens' arguments.

Conclusions

Today, Explained concludes by contextualizing Owens' actions within the larger framework of media evolution and societal resistance to change. The erosion of traditional media ecosystems has empowered figures like Owens to command significant influence, not necessarily through reliable information, but through compelling and provocative content that resonates with specific audience segments.

The episode underscores the complexity of justice and public opinion, especially in high-profile cases like Harvey Weinstein's, and highlights the enduring impact of cultural narratives on legal and societal outcomes.

Notable Quotes:

• Noel King [00:01]: "Harvey Weinstein is back in court this week..."
• E.J. Dixon [05:05]: "Women are not an oppressed class in the West..."
• Constance Grady [12:50]: "The metric is who is keeping eyeballs on the page..."

Key Takeaways:

• The overturning of Weinstein's conviction has reopened debates about the MeToo movement and the justice system.
• Candace Owens' shift from a liberal to a far-right commentator showcases the influence of personal trauma and backlash against feminist progress.
• Owens' strategic use of media platforms and sensational content has significantly expanded her audience.
• Cultural shifts, particularly anti-feminist sentiments among younger generations, have created an environment where figures like Owens can thrive.
• The episode highlights the ongoing tension between societal progress and conservative backlash, emphasizing the role of media in shaping public discourse.

For more insights and detailed analyses, visit Vox.