After news came out that Harvey Weinstein had been accused of sexual assault in a damning New York Times exposé, people were understandably livid. Unfortunately, not everyone directed their ire at the right guy. Gay icon Harvey Fierstein — who has, to our knowledge, never been accused of anything untoward — has been fielding tweets who have confused him with the Hollywood mogul.
Harvey Weinstein is rumored to be in trouble & I am somehow getting flak as well! I get it. All Harveys look alike.
— Harvey Fierstein (@HarveyFierstein) October 6, 2017
Such are the dangers of having a relatively uncommon first name. After all, when we think of famous Harveys, here’s the complete list that comes to mind:
- Harvey Weinstein, producer and alleged creepazoid (@HarveyWeinstein)
- Harvey Fierstein, gay icon and national treasure (@HarveyFierstein)
- Harvey Levin, the conservative gay man who runs TMZ (@HarveyLevinTMZ)
- Harvey Keitel, actor (not on Twitter)
- Harvey Kurtzman, the creator of MAD magazine (dead for 24 years, not on Twitter)
- Harvey Korman, comedian (dead for 9 years, not on Twitter)
- Harvey Milk, legendary gay activist and politician (dead for 39 years, not on Twitter)
- Harvey Kinkle, Sabrina the Teenage Witch‘s boyfriend (fictional, not on Twitter)
- Hurricane Harvey, a hurricane (not on Twitter)
Here are some of our favorite confused tweets:
Totally bummed to hear @HarveyFierstein has been inappropriate with ladies. Independence Day will never be the same.
— WFOD (@WFODicks) October 7, 2017
.@realDonaldTrump sucks.
.@CameronNewton sucks.
.@HarveyFierstein sucks.
What do they all have in common? Powerful men in America.— Jenny W. Rogers (@rogersjw12) October 6, 2017
I can't believe @HarveyFierstein sexually harassed Ashely Judd. I always thought he was gay!
— Dave Connelly (@DavidConnelly) October 6, 2017
Thankfully, some folks owned up to their (or their friends’) confusion:
Figuring out that #HarveyWeinstein is not the same person as @HarveyFierstein has cleared up an untold number of things for me.
— Tim Schenck (@FatherTim) October 7, 2017
That's funny. When I heard the news, you were who I thought of first! Guess I wasn't alone!
— Michael Blair (@michaelblair78) October 7, 2017
Thanks for that! I was confused and horrified. So glad I can still love Harvey F.
— georgine sheridan (@yiayiageorgie) October 7, 2017
So that's why I thought Harvey Weinstein was gay.. ?
— Kanye_Trump (@Barack_McBush) October 7, 2017
Actual text from this morning… pic.twitter.com/pCVh6JirhT
— PJ Brennan (@peejaybrennan) October 6, 2017
Hubby says to me last night, “Hear about the guy from Torch Song?? He’s harassing woman” and I said , “I think you have the wrong Harvey” ?
— Vincent Catoggio (@vcat523) October 6, 2017
Fav if you've been confused because you thought everyone has been talking about @HarveyFierstein all day. pic.twitter.com/ZzhQYaegjQ
— Jenny McFear ☠️? (@jennydrinks) October 6, 2017
And of course, as Mister Rogers says, “Look for the helpers“:
Attention: @HarveyWeinstein harasses women, @HarveyFierstein sometimes dresses like them. Don’t get it twisted.
— Adam Sank (@AdamSank) October 7, 2017
One more time for the cheap seats in the back: Harvey WEINSTEIN is the bad hombre! @HarveyFierstein is AMAZING. pic.twitter.com/61s5NQLXiy
— Karen?Zgoda (@karenzgoda) October 7, 2017
Like Liza with a Z – it's Wein not Fier
— Joe Incao (@Incao501) October 6, 2017
We’re also amused by the people saying that harassing women would be, ahem, a bit out of character for Mr. Fierstein:
If @HarveyFierstein was harassing women in hotel rooms, that would certainly be a scoop… https://t.co/okRlXGSI8f
— JM Bear (@TheBearSchmoo) October 7, 2017
It would take @realDonaldTrump out of the news for at least a day if @HarveyFierstein was a sexual predator of attractive young women
— Deborah V (@socalscootergal) October 6, 2017
Guys, make sure your anger is directed at @HarveyWeinstein and not @HarveyFierstein. Im pretty sure woman are safe around Harvey Fierstein.
— Jason SweetTooth (@J_SweetTooth) October 6, 2017
Finally, here’s a petition we can really get behind:
petition to install @HarveyFierstein as CEO of The Weinstein Company, and retroactively award him all of Miramax's Oscars. https://t.co/PUMJ92hujl
— Laurie Kilmartin (@anylaurie16) October 6, 2017
In case you’re still confused, here are a few ways to properly identify your Harvey:
Does your Harvey have a Tony for acting or writing? If so, you’ve got a Fierstein.
Does your Harvey have a Tony for producing? That’s a Weinstein, bub.
Is your Harvey’s most famous role Sam Rizzo in the critical and commercial bomb An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn? Weinstein’s your guy.
Is your Harvey’s most famous role Arnold Beckoff in Torch Song Trilogy? Fierstein, baby!
Is your Harvey beloved by all? That’s totally Fierstein.
Is your Harvey generally disliked, even before the New York Times did its piece? Yep, that’s… yecch… Weinstein.
