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France wants back Weinstein's Legion d’Honneur award

Disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein will be stripped of his Legion d’Honneur award, Emmanuel Macron confirmed Sunday. The French president justified the step during a rare televised interview, saying Weinstein’s actions lack “honor.”

Macron gave the interview hoping to bolster his administration in the wake of contentious labor reforms and plummeting approval ratings. However, much of the reaction has focused on the president’s Weinstein comments.

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“Yes, I have indeed taken steps to withdraw the Légion d’Honneur,” Macron said. “I wish, as these acts lack the honor, that we take all the consequences.”

The movie mogul, currently the focus of a barrage of sexual assault allegations, was presented with the award in 2012 by then-president Nicolas Sarkozy.

The medal is the highest order of merit bestowed on French and foreign nationals for civil and military achievements in the service of France and the ideals it upholds. Weinstein, whose company has backed many Oscar-winning films and actors, was awarded the medal for his contributions to world cinema.

The Legion d’Honneur is the latest accolade to be stripped from Weinstein since the New York Times first made allegations public earlier this month.

After being fired by the company he founded on Oct. 8, Weinstein’s membership of BAFTA was rescinded and he was expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The Cannes Film Festival, where Weinstein was a regular, has condemned his alleged actions.

Lawmakers are urging British Prime Minister Theresa May to strip Weinstein of his Commander of the British Empire title.

U.K. police said Sunday authorities are investigating allegations from three women about attacks that allegedly took place between the late 1980s and 2015.

Actress Lysette Anthony told the Sunday Times Weinstein attacked her three times — in the late 198s and more recently — describing it as rape.

“He pushed me inside and rammed me against the coat rack,” she said of one attack. “He was trying to kiss me and shove inside me. Finally I just gave up.”