Academy Award winner Meryl Streep called the alleged sexual harassment by Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein disgraceful, inexcusable, and an abuse of power. She called the women who have spoken out against him heroes.

In a statement sent to HuffPost exclusively by Streeps longtime publicist Leslee Dart, Streep says she did not know that Weinstein with whom she has collaborated for years on films like August: Osage County and The Iron Lady and once jokingly referred to as a God was engaging in inappropriate, coercive acts and that he had paid financial settlements to at least eight women after they accused him of harassment and assault.