But attorneys representing six of the women who have made accusations against Weinstein called the proposed deal a "sellout" that did not require Weinstein to accept responsibility or personally pay out any money.

Harvey Weinstein was taken to hospital for chest pains after receiving a guilty verdict in his sexual assault trial in New York.

Hollywood star Ashley Judd thanked the women who testified against Weinstein, saying they went through "hell."

The Harvey Weinstein verdict followed weeks of often harrowing and excruciatingly graphic testimony from a string of accusers.

"The justice system has been something very elusive. I hope in this case it works. Because it's all true. None of this was consensual," Rose McGowan said of Harvey Weinstein.

"My job is not to defend behaviour," said Harvey Weinstein's lawyer Benjamin Brafman. "My job is to defend something that is criminal behaviour."