Kenneth Cole speaks out over Harvey Weinstein AIDS charity scandal

Kenneth Cole has spoken out over reports linking him to a questionable deal with Harvey Weinstein.The New York-based fashion designer has been openly involved in publicly supporting AIDS awareness and research, and acts as a chairman of the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR).
On Wednesday (18Oct17), The Huffington Post published a report claiming that Cole and movie producer Weinstein, who has recently been accused of sexual harassment by a number of high-profile women, had agreed to arrange a charity auction in May 2015 to resolve a $600,000 (£457,000) financial obligation to the American Repertory Theater (ART), the group that helped Weinstein stage a run of musical Finding Neverland.
They allegedly agreed to split the money between amfAR and ART, but four out of the 15 members of the amfAR board weren't happy with this decision.
Accordingly, Cole released a statement on Thursday in which he claimed that New York Attorney General's Office (OAG) reviewed the auction transaction but declined to investigate further.
He added that he was "personally committed" to strengthening governance of the nonprofit organisation.
"I am personally committed to implementing the OAG's recommendations to ensure that our fundraising policies and procedures are never called into question again," he said.
"The mission is too important, there remain millions of lives at risk and the work is far from finished to allow any of us to be distracted from the task of conquering HIV/AIDS." The remaining members of the amfAR board are reportedly backing Cole, though it has also been reported that several members of the nonprofit have resigned in protest of how the deal was handled.
Furthermore, Cole also claimed that he wasn't aware of Weinstein's alleged harassment of women, with actresses Rose McGowan and Ashley Judd among his accusers.
"In regards to the actions of Harvey Weinstein recently revealed in media reports, let me repeat publicly what I have been saying privately: I find his actions deeply disturbing but if there is any good to come out these revelations it is the start of a thoughtful self-reflection of our society and of our collective behaviour," added Cole.
Weinstein was fired from The Weinstein Company, the firm he co-founded, following the flurry of sexual assault allegations made against him in an expose published in The New York Times.
He has denied any non-consensual sexual conduct.