Harvey Weinstein has vowed to attend “counselling” in a bid to curb his behaviour, as the list of sexual harassment, assault and misconduct allegations against him grows steadily longer. Emma Thompson, however, has branded the disgraced movie producer as “dangerous” – and reminded the media to stop using apologetic terminology in cases such as these.

“I don’t think you can describe him as a sex addict,” she insisted during an appearance on Newsnight.

“He's a predator. He's an actual predator, he's dangerous and what he's done and what he's doing is criminal.”

The Love Actually star continued: “What I find sort of extraordinary is that this man is at the top of a very particular iceberg... (At) the top of the ladder of is a system of harassment, and belittling, and bullying, and interference, and what my mother would have referred to in the old days as ‘pestering.’ ‘Is he pestering you?’

“That's the word we used to use in the olden days, if you recall. This has been part of our world, women's world, since time immemorial.”

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Thompson went on to claim that Weinstein is absolutely not the only man in Hollywood to abuse his position of power, but asked, “do they all have to be as bad as him to count?

“Does it only count if you really have done it to loads and loads and loads of women? Or does it count if you do it to one woman once. I think the latter.”

Thompson, who went on to say that her only contact with Weinstein “was shouting at him down the phone that I never wanted to work with him ever, ever, ever,” also pleaded with men to stand by women at this time.

And, more importantly, to work on tackling the “crisis in masculinity”.

“What we need to start talking about is the crisis in masculinity, the crisis of extreme masculinity which is this sort of behaviour and the fact that it is not only OK, but it also is represented by the most powerful man in the world at the moment,” she said.

Read more: Harvey Weinstein’s wife leaves him as she condemns his “unforgivable” actions

Cara Delevingne, Kate Beckinsale, Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie are the latest high-profile names to come forward and accuse Weinstein of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour, alleging that the incidents happened early in their acting careers.

Responding to the lengthy allegations against him, Weinstein's spokeswoman, Sallie Hofmeister, told the Times: “Any allegations of non-consensual sex are unequivocally denied by Mr Weinstein. Mr Weinstein has further confirmed that there were never any acts of retaliation against any women for refusing his advances.

“He will not be available for further comments, as he is taking the time to focus on his family, on getting counselling and rebuilding his life.”

Read more: Rose McGowan addresses the men of Hollywood following Weinstein allegations

Weinstein has separately issued an apology and reiterated that he is going to seek therapy.

In a statement last week he said: “I appreciate the way I’ve behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologise for it. Though I’m trying to do better, I know I have a long way to go.”

Images: Rex Features