WASHINGTON (AFP, NYTIMES) - Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle on Tuesday said they were "disgusted" by the growing allegations of sexual misconduct by Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, a longtime Democratic Party donor.

"Michelle and I have been disgusted by the recent reports about Harvey Weinstein. Any man who demeans and degrades women in such fashion needs to be condemned and held accountable, regardless of wealth or status," they said in a statement.

"We should celebrate the courage of women who have come forward to tell these painful stories. And we all need to build a culture - including by empowering our girls and teaching our boys decency and respect - so we can make such behavior less prevalent in the future."

For decades, Harvey Weinstein had cultivated an image as a liberal power broker, raising money for Hillary Clinton, briefly employing Malia Obama as an intern and calling himself an advocate for women.