Fashion designer Donna Karan defends Harvey Weinstein and blames victims

Fashion designer Donna Karan has defended film producer Harvey Weinstein following allegations of sexual harassment.

The New Yorker caused outrage when she suggested the alleged victims were to blame for their choice of clothing.

Karan spoke out after Weinstein was fired from The Weinstein Company following an explosive New York Times article detailing harassment over the past couple of decades.

The 69-year-old told the Daily Mail: "I also think how do we display ourselves? How do we present ourselves as women? What are we asking? Are we asking for it by presenting all the sensuality and all the sexuality.

"You look at everything all over the world today and how women are dressing and what they are asking by just presenting themselves the way they do. What are they asking for? Trouble."

Karan, who is friends with Weinstein and his wife, fashion designer Georgina Chapman, praised the couple as "wonderful people".

The designer later issued a statement saying her comments had been "taken out of context".

She said: "While answering a question on the red carpet I made a statement that unfortunately is not representative of how I feel or what I believe....

"My statements were taken out of context and do not represent how I feel about the current situation concerning Harvey Weinstein."