Cosby and Polanski booted from Academy
THE Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said on Thursday that it has expelled actor Bill Cosby and film director Roman Polanski from its membership in light of the sexual assault cases against both men.
The Academy’s board of governors met on Tuesday night and voted to strip both men of membership “in accordance with the organisation’s Standards of Conduct”, it said.
“The Board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy’s values of respect for human dignity,” it said.
Cosby has been accused of sexual assault by dozens of women.
A 12-member Pennsylvania jury found the 80-yearold comedian guilty on three counts of sexual assault on April 26 for drugging and molesting Andrea Constand at his Philadelphia mansion in January 2004. He faces up to 30 years in prison at his sentencing later this year.
Polanski, who lives in France, for his part is wanted in the United States for the statutory rape of a 13-yearold girl in 1977.
The veteran 84-year-old director of “Rosemary’s Baby” for years has been seeking to negotiate a deal in the case with US authorities.
Polanski’s alleged victim, Samantha Geimer, who has sought to end the 41-year-old case against the fugitive director, on Thursday dismissed the Academy’s decision to expel him as “an ugly and cruel action which serves only appearance”.
“It does nothing to change the sexist culture in Hollywood today and simply proves that they will eat their own to survive,” she said in a statement. “I say to Roman, good riddance to bad rubbish, the Academy has no true honour, it’s all just PR.” The Academy last October also voted to expel disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein in response to allegations of sexual assault and harassment.
Apart from Weinstein, Cosby and Polanski, only one other Academy member has been booted from the group in its 91-year history. “Godfather” actor Carmine Caridi was thrown out in 2004 after he shared screeners that were later pirated.
The latest expulsions come as the movie industry reels from the assault allegations against Weinstein which prompted an international uproar and encouraged legions of women to share their own experience of sexual harassment or rape under the hashtag #MeToo.