'Bad Santa' director Terry Zwigoff says Weinstein discouraged him from hiring Mira Sorvino

Director Terry Zwigoff says Harvey Weinstein discouraged him from casting Mira Sorvino in the 2003 film Bad Santa. 

Zwigoff shared the news via Twitter on Friday, apologizing to the actress, who has accused the producer of sexual harassment. 

"I was interested in casting Mira Sorvino in BAD SANTA, but every time I mentioned her over the phone to the Weinsteins, I'd hear a CLICK," he wrote. "What type of person just hangs up on you like that?! I guess we all know what type of person now. I'm really sorry Mira."

Zwigoff joins Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, who also claims Weinstein pressured him into blacklisting Sorvino.

In a statement to USA TODAY, Holly K. Baird, a spokeswoman for Weinstein, said "Mr. Weinstein denies speaking with Terry regarding casting. That was a Dimension film (Bob Weinstein) and Harvey had nothing to do with it."

Harvey Weinstein is listed as a co-executive producer on the film's credits on IMDb.com.

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Hollywood power players facing sexual misconduct allegations

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Recent allegations that movie mogul Harvey Weinstein sexually assaulted and harassed women for years have come to light, ushering in a cataclysmic career downfall for him and many more. See the following cultural power players who have been accused of improper behavior.  John Carucci, AP

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Ben Affleck issued an apology on Oct. 11, a day after Hilarie Burton said he groped her during a 2003 appearance on 'Total Request Live.' Afflecktweeted, “I acted inappropriately toward Ms. Burton and I sincerely apologize,”  Robyn Beck, AFP/Getty Images

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Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys says he'’s “shocked and saddened by accusations from a singer who said he raped her about 15 years ago. Melissa Schuman, of the girl group Dream, wrote in a blog post Carter “forced her to engage in a sexual act against her will.”  Amy Harris, Invision/AP

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After years of denying what he called rumors, Louis C.K. finally admitted that he exposed himself, masturbated and masturbated in front of women on multiple occasions.  Rich Fury, Getty Images

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Actor and comedian Andy Dick has been fired from his role in the film 'Raising Buchanan' after he was accused of "groping people’s genitals, unwanted kissing/licking and sexual propositions of at least four members of the production on the set," according to 'The Hollywood Reporter.' Dick denied groping claims, but admitted to licking and propositioning people.  Kevork Djansezian, Getty Images

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A writer who worked for actor and political activist Richard Dreyfuss said he sexually harassed her for years and exposed himself to her in a studio lot trailer when she worked for him in the '80s. Jessica Teich told the 'New York Magazine' that the actor made continual, overt and lewd comments and invitations after they met at a theater where she worked and Dreyfuss appeared. Dreyfuss denied the actor ever exposed himself to Teich but acknowledged to other encounters he now realizes were inappropriate.  Manuel Balce Ceneta, AP

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Producer and writer Gary Goddard denies accusations from 'ER's Anthony Edwards of molesting him as a child and raping his best friend. Edwards says the abuse went on for years. Goddard denied the allegations in a statement.  Bob Chamberlin, LA Times via Getty Images

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David Guillod, a manager, producer and Co-CEO of Primary Wave Entertainment, was accused by actress Jessica Barth of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 2012 when he was working as her manager. Guillod's attorney said the charges were fully investigated at the time, though he has taken a leave of absence.  Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images

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Anna Graham Hunter alleges that Oscar-winning actor Dustin Hoffman groped her and talked about sex in front of her while she was a 17-year-old intern on the set of his 1985 TV-movie adaptation of 'Death of a Salesman.' Hoffman apologized in a statement to the 'Associated Press,' saying, “I have the utmost respect for women and feel terrible that anything I might have done could have put her in an uncomfortable situation… It is not reflective of who I am.” The following day, a second accuser, Wendy Riss Gatsiounis told 'Variety' the actor made verbal advances and tried to convince her to go to a hotel.  Jordan Strauss, Invision/AP

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Ethan Kath (Claudio Palmieri), 34, a songwriter and producer of Canadian music group Crystal Castles, is accused of rape by former bandmate Alice Glass, in a letter posted on her website. His response: "I am outraged and hurt by the recent statements made by Alice about me and our prior relationship,” the statement reads. “Fortunately, there are many witnesses who can and will confirm that I was never abusive to Alice.”  C Flanigan, FilmMagic

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Andrew Kreisberg, 46, executive producer of CW superhero series Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl and Legends of Tomorrow, was fired by Warner Bros., USA TODAY confirmed Nov. 29. Variety published a story in which 15 women and four men alleged sexual harassment and inappropriate physical contact.  Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

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John Lasseter, the chief creative officer of Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios, will take a six-month leave of absence following what he called "missteps" in a memo obtained by USA TODAY on Nov. 21. The news broke as The Hollywood Reporter was compiling a report into alleged sexual misconduct. No accuser agreed to be named.  Neilson Barnard, Getty Images

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Jennifer Lopez' longtime manager Benny Medina is accused of attempted rape by Jason Dottley in an interview published by The Advocate on Nov. 10. A statement from Medina's lawyers Howard Weitzman and Shawn Holley to USA TODAY said Medina "categorically denies the allegation of attempted rape.  Johnny Nunez, WireImage

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Girls' writer Murray Miller is accused of sexually assaulting actress Aurora Perrineau in 2012 when she was 17. Miller denies the accusation. He's seen here with Audrey Gelman, left, and Girls star Lena Dunham, in this 2012 file photo.  Benjamin Lozovsky/BFA/REX/Shutterstock, Benjamin Lozovsky/BFA/REX/Shutterstock

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Jeremy Piven faces accusations from several women of sexual misconduct. Although he has denied the allegations, has CBS pulled the plug on freshman series Wisdom of the Crowd, deciding against picking up the back nine episodes of the drama's first season.  Evan Agostini, Invision/AP

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Hollywood's widening sexual harassment crisis ensnared another prominent film director when six women, Including actress Olivia Munn, accused Ratner of harassment or misconduct in a Los Angeles Times report, on Nov. 1. He is no longer working on any Warner Bros. projects.  Willy Sanjuan, Invision/AP

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Twiggy Ramirez (Jeordie White) the former bassist and guitarist of the band Marilyn Manson, was accused of rape Oct. 20 by Jack Off Jill singer Jessicka Addams, who shared in a Facebook post that White physically and sexually assaulted her while they were dating. On Oct. 24, Marilyn Manson announced on his Twitter account, he parted with Jeordie White as a member of Marilyn Manson.  Amy Harris, Invision/AP

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Chris Savino, 46, an animator and writer best known for creating The Loud House, was fired from Nickelodeon after multiple women lodged complaints against him. He's seen here with Producer Karen Malach, left, and writer Karla Sakas Shropshire during "The Loud House" event presented by Nickelodeon during Day Two of aTVfest in this 2016 file photo.  Vivien Killilea, Getty Images for SCAD

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Mark Schwahn a screenwriter best known for creating the popular TV series One Tree Hill, was accused of "traumatizing" sexual harassment by 18 cast and crew members of the show, including Sophia Bush and Hilarie Burton, in a letter published in Variety on Nov. 13.  Neilson Barnard, Getty Images

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Actress Portia de Rossi claims, in a Nov. 8 tweet, that actor/producer Steven Seagal, during a private office audition, explained the importance of chemistry off-screen as he sat her down and unzipped his leather pants. The actress says she escaped and called her agent following the incident.  Ivan Sekretarev, AP

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Music mogul Russell Simmons is accused of assault by Keri Claussen Khalighi, an aspiring model who was 17 when she says Simmons assaulted her and coerced her into perform oral sex while Brett Ratner was present, according to a report from The Los Angeles Times on Nov. 19. Simmons denied the allegations. However on Nov. 30, he announced he's stepping down from all of his companies and foundations.  Tibrina Hobson, AFP/Getty Images

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An 11-year-old actress on the set of crime thriller Born Killers (shot as Piggy Banks) in 2003, according to a report from The Hollywood Reporter published Nov. 13, alleges that Tom Sizemore touched her genitals during a photo shoot for the film. His agent Stephen Rice, told the industry trade paper, "Our position is 'no comment.'"  John Carucci, AP

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Actor Anthony Rapp, claims he was 14 when Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey made advances towards him in 1986. Spacey apologized to Rapp via Twitter on Oct. 30, blaming drunken behavior and coming out at as gay as well. The latter mention drew huge criticism as a lame shield. Since the Rapp report, several other accusers have come forward against Spacey, including a former House of Cards crew member, filmmaker Tony Montana and actor Rob Cavazos.  Angela Weiss, AFP/Getty Images

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In the 1980s a police report details an 16-year-old girl consented to having sex with Sylvester Stallone in Las Vegas. However she felt intimidated into having group sex with him and his bodyguard. Stallone's rep says " “This is a ridiculous, categorically false story."  Ian Gavan, Getty Images

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'Star Trek' original cast member George Takei denies the claim of former model Scott R. Brunton alleging Takei groped him in the actor's Los Angeles condominium in 1981.  USA TODAY

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Jeffrey Tambor, 73, an actor best known for his role as a trans woman on Transparent, was accused of engaging in inappropriate behavior by his former assistant, a transgender woman named Van Barnes, according to aDeadline report on Nov. 8. Tambor rejected the claims, calling Barnes' allegations “baseless.” Tambor was also accused of sexual misconduct by Transparent star Trace Lysette in a Nov. 16 report from The Hollywood Reporter. He has since decided not to return to the show.  John Lamparski, WireImage

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The accusations of sexual misconduct are numbered in the hundreds against screenwriter and director James Toback (The Pick-up Artist, Two Girls and a Guy) according to reports from the Los Angeles Times on Oct. 27. The Times says 31 of the women spoke on the record about their encounters with Toback, which go back decades, and more than 270 have contacted journalist Glenn Whipp with similar claims. Julianne Moore accused Toback via Twitter on Oct. 24 of luring aspiring actresses to his hotel room for an audition, adding it happened to her in the 1980s. Rachel McAdams and Selma Blair joined the accusers list.  Tiziana Fabi, AFP/Getty Images

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Bob Weinstein claimed he had no knowledge of the extent of his brother Harvey Weinstein's sexual misdeeds. However, he has an accuser as well. TV producer Amanda Segel says Bob Weinstein sexually harassed her. According to a story published Oct. 17 by Variety, Weinstein invited her to dinner, to his home and to a hotel room during a three-month period in the summer of 2016.  Chris Pizello, AP

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Executive producer Matthew Weiner known for creating AMC's Mad Men was accused of sexual harassment by Mad Men staff writer Kater Gordon. Allegedly Weiner told her late one night she ''owed it to him to let him see her naked." She says she didn’t report the comment officially because she was afraid of losing her job. A year after the incident, Gordon was let go from Mad Men. Weiner doesn't remember making the comment.  Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images

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Ed Westwick known for his role on Gossip Girl is accused of sexual misconduct by two women. Actress Kristina Cohen accused Westwick in a Facebook post Nov. 6, of raping her at his house three years ago and filed a Hollywood police on Nov. 7. Westwick denied the allegations, tweeting on Nov. 7, "I do not know this woman. I have never forced myself in any manner, on any woman. I certainly have never committed rape." Rachel Eck accused him of groping her and unwanted advances in a Buzzfeed report on Nov. 14.  Jeff Spicer, Getty Images

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Garrison Keillor, author and retired star of 'A Prairie Home Companion,' says he has been fired by Minnesota Public Radio over allegations of improper behavior.  Leila Navidi, AP

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NBC fired Matt Lauer, longtime anchor of the 'Today 'show, on Nov. 28 following allegations of sexual misconduct with a colleague. After Lauer's dismissal, more allegations have surfaced. Lauer has admitted that there's enough truth in the allegations to make him feel embarrassed. 'To the people I have hurt, I am truly sorry," he said in a statement. Lauer had been a part of the 'Today' team for more than 20 years.  Zach Pagano, NBC

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