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'It's almost like a weapon': How the blonde bombshell has symbolised desire and danger Western culture, she says, has built a whole mythology around female blondeness − from religious iconography and fairy tales, to art and advertising − that has told specific stories about what it means to be blonde. In cinema's early years, comedies such as Platinum Blonde (1931) and Bombshell (1933), starring Jean Harlow, embedded concepts of the dazzling, devastatingly beautiful blonde into the cultural vernacular. "The idea that you're a bombshell, it's almost like a weapon," says Nead. "On the one hand, it is this kind of ideal, but at the same time, it's also threatening."   Before Harlow, there was another − more natural-looking − blonde on the scene: Mary Pickford, whose amber curls helped earn her the moniker of "America's Sweetheart". But while Pickford played the guileless girl waiting to be rescued, Harlow's peroxide blonde ...
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Weinstein accuser breaks down under cross-examination in retrial


One of Harvey Weinstein's accusers has broken down in tears and left the courtroom as she testified in the former Hollywood mogul's sex crimes retrial.

Production assistant Miriam Haley was being cross-examined by Weinstein's lawyer, Jennifer Bonjean, about her allegation that the disgraced producer sexually assaulted her in 2006.

In his third trial in five years, Mr Weinstein is accused of sexually abusing Ms Haley and two other women.

The 73-year-old has pleaded not guilty, and in court his lawyer has sought to cast doubt on his accusers' claims and credibility.

Ms Haley, 48, alleges that Mr Weinstein sexually assaulted her in July 2006 after inviting her to his apartment to "just stop by and say hi".

She alleges he backed her into a bedroom and held her down on the bed as she pleaded "no, no - it's not going to happen".

During Friday's exchange, Mr Weinstein's lawyer Ms Bonjean questioned what Ms Haley was wearing during the incident, and whether she took her own clothes off or whether Weinstein removed them.

"He took my clothes off…I didn't take my clothes off," Ms Haley testified. "He was the one who raped me, not the other way around."

"That is for the jury to decide," Mr Weinstein's lawyer replied.

"No, it's not for the jury to decide. It's my experience. And he did that to me," Ms Haley argued, using expletives as tears streamed down her face.

Judge Curtis Farber then paused proceedings to give Ms Haley a chance to compose herself.

Cross-examination continued after the break.

Ms Haley, who worked as a production assistant on the Weinstein-produced television show Project Runway, is the first accuser to testify at his retrial.

Mr Weinstein is charged with sexually assaulting Ms Haley and Kaja Sokola and raping a third woman, Jessica Mann.

He denies the allegations and his lawyers argue that his accusers had consensual encounters with a then-powerful movie producer who could advance their careers.

An appeals court overturned Mr Weinstein's conviction in 2020 after finding he did not get a fair trial.

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