Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes Season 1 Episode 3 The Assistants

Catch and Kill: The Podcast Tapes is a docuseries that delves into the story behind journalist Ronan Farrow's investigative reporting on the wide-ranging allegations of sexual assault and harassment by Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein. In season 1 episode 3 titled "The Assistants," Farrow turns his attention to the experiences of the women who worked for Weinstein in various capacities, as part of his campaign of intimidation and abuse.

The episode features interviews with several former assistants of Weinstein, who share their personal stories of how they were manipulated and coerced into facilitating his predatory behavior. Through their experiences, Farrow reveals the insidious and pervasive nature of Weinstein's tactics, which involved not only direct acts of sexual misconduct, but also the use of power and influence to silence and intimidate his victims.

The episode begins with Farrow speaking to Rowena Chiu, a former assistant to Weinstein who was sexually assaulted by him in a hotel in Venice in 1998. Chiu describes how she was afraid to report the incident at the time due to Weinstein's power and influence, and how she was made to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that prevented her from speaking out for years.

Farrow then speaks to Zelda Perkins, another former assistant who worked for Weinstein in London. Perkins describes how she and Chiu managed to negotiate a settlement with Weinstein in 1998 that included provisions for better treatment of female employees and a promise to change his behavior. However, Perkins explains that Weinstein continued to harass and intimidate women, and that the terms of the settlement were never fully enforced.

The episode also features interviews with Dawn Dunning, a former actress who worked as an assistant to Weinstein in the early 2000s. Dunning describes how Weinstein lured her to a hotel room for a fake audition, and then offered her a trade: sex in exchange for career advancement. Dunning refused and left, but was left feeling ashamed and embarrassed. She later reported the incident to the police, but no charges were filed.

Farrow also speaks to Emily Nestor, a former assistant who worked for Weinstein in 2014. Nestor describes how she was subjected to inappropriate comments and advances by Weinstein, and how she was encouraged to spend time with him alone. Nestor eventually quit her job after feeling uncomfortable and unsafe.

Finally, the episode features an interview with Tomi-Ann Roberts, a former aspiring actress who was invited to Weinstein's hotel room for an audition in 1984. Roberts describes how Weinstein appeared in a bathrobe and asked her to strip naked, telling her it was necessary to "get into character." Roberts refused and left, but was left feeling traumatized and violated.

Through the stories of these women, Farrow exposes the ways in which Weinstein's predatory behavior extended beyond his personal relationships, and permeated the entire culture of his company. As he notes at the end of the episode, "It wasn't just Harvey. It was a whole ecosystem that enabled him and protected him."