Kevin Smith Donating All Future Residuals From Weinstein-Produced Films to Women in Film

As the fallout from the Harvey Weinstein sexual-abuse scandal continues to rock Hollywood, Kevin Smith, one of the filmmakers most associated with the disgraced mogul, has made a bold move.

Smith came to the forefront of the film industry in 1994 when Weinstein, then in charge of Miramax, purchased Smith’s independently-produced film Clerks. The black-and-white comedy became a cult smash and led to a working relationship between Smith and Weinstein that would last over a decade. Smith’s films Chasing Amy (1997), Dogma (1999), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), and Jersey Girl (2004) were all produced through financial backing from Miramax or Weinstein himself. In the mid-2000s, Smith followed Weinstein to The Weinstein Company, producing Clerks II (2006) and Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008) for the studio.

Though Smith had a public falling out with Weinstein in 2010, many immediately sought his reaction when the sexual-assault scandal broke. Smith first released a Twitter statement which read, “He financed the first 14 years of my career – and now I know while I was profiting, others were in terrible pain. It makes me feel ashamed.”

He financed the first 14 years of my career – and now I know while I was profiting, others were in terrible pain. It makes me feel ashamed. https://t.co/T0hInW7EqJ

— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) October 9, 2017

Smith spoke in greater depth about the subject on an episode of his Hollywood Babble-On podcast.

“My entire career is tied up with the man,” he said. “It’s been a weird f**cking week. I just wanted to make some f**king movies, that’s it. No f**king movie is worth all this. Like, my entire career, f**k it, take it. It’s wrapped up in something really f**king  horrible … I’m not looking for sympathy. I know it’s not my fault, but I didn’t f**king help. I sat out there talking about this man like he was a hero, like he was my friend, like he was my father and s*** like that.”

Smith also said of Weinstein, “I didn’t know the man that they keep talking about in the press. Clearly he exists, but that man never showed himself to me. It all hurts, and it didn’t happen to me, but it all hurts.”

Smith explained that he now feels uncomfortable receiving any money for films produced by Weinstein, even residuals.

“Well, I don’t have money from 20 years ago,” he said. “Do you? But that being said, I work in an industry where thankfully there are dividends that come out of a movie for the rest of your life. The first thing I feel like I can do is … I don’t want that anymore.”

Smith went on to explain that he plans on donating all of those future residuals from his Weinstein-produced films to Women In Film, an organization that furthers the advancement of women in the film industry. He also vowed that if the Weinstein Company’s business issues curtails those royalties in the wake of the scandal, he will instead donate $2,000 per month to Women In Film for the rest of his life.