Film academy board to hold meeting on weekend to discuss Weinstein allegations

LOS ANGELES The film academy is calling the sexual harassment conduct Harvey Weinstein is accused of engaging in “repugnant” and “antithetical to the high standards of the Academy and the creative community it represents.”

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also announced Wednesday that its board of Governors will hold a special meeting Saturday to discuss the allegations “and any actions warranted by the Academy.”

Weinstein has long been a major figure at the Academy Awards, where his films have regularly won Oscars, including five best picture-winners. Weinstein personally shared in the best-picture Oscar for “Shakespeare in Love.”

Some in Hollywood have called for the film academy to rescind Weinstein’s membership.

Britain’s film academy says it has suspended producer Harvey Weinstein over the multiple accusations of harassment and sexual assault against him that recently became public.

Elsewhere, model and actress Cara Delevingne is joining the long list of Harvey Weinstein accusers.

She says in a lengthy Instagram post that Weinstein brought up sexual subjects during more than one business meeting and also tried to get Delevingne to kiss a woman in front of him.

She says she did not participate and left the room. She says she subsequently appeared in a Weinstein Co. film and adds that she “felt awful that I did the movie.” She says she was afraid to speak out at the time of the incident because she feared she may have somehow been responsible and didn’t want to hurt his family.

Delevingne says in a second post Wednesday that abuse of women by powerful men happens in every industry. She urged victims to speak out.