Weinstein expelled from Academy over allegations

Producer embroiled in scandal after actresses accuse him of sexual assault

Harvey Weinstein, the embattled producer accused by some of Hollywood’s leading actresses of sexual assault, was expelled Saturday by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences board.

The board reviewed Weinstein’s membership at an emergency meeting and released a statement Saturday afternoon that it “voted well in excess of the required two-thirds majority to immediately expel him from the Academy.”

The statement from the Academy said: “We do so not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over. What’s at issue here is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society. The Board continues to work to establish ethical standards of conduct that all Academy members will be expected to exemplify.”

Over his career, Weinstein has cobbled together 341 Oscar nominations and 81 wins. His films include The King’s Speech, The Artist and Shakespeare in Love, all of which won best

picture.

An Academy statement Wednesday called Weinstein’s alleged actions “repugnant, abhorrent and antithetical” to the group that organizes the Oscars.

Since then, even more bigname actresses have come forward to share their own harassment stories involving Weinstein, and myriad politicians, actors and actresses have condemned Weinstein in a series of statements.

The Academy’s board of governors includes Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Whoopi Goldberg and Laura Dern.

Fallout from the Weinstein scandal continues more than a week after an explosive New

York Times investigation detailed decades of sexual harassment accusations against Weinstein, and The New Yorker released its own report, including allegations of rape and sexual assault.

The Weinstein Co., which he helped to found, has fired him, and Weinstein’s wife, fashion designer Georgina Chapman, announced she was leaving him.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published Saturday, Bob Weinstein said he’s living in “a waking nightmare.”

Bob, Harvey’s brother and cofounder of The Weinstein Co., said he knew his brother was a philandering bully but had no idea “the type of predator” his brother is accused of being.

“I want him to get the justice he deserves,” he said.

“What’s at issue here is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society.” The board of governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

JOHN CARUCCI, AP Producer Harvey Weinstein faces multiple allegations of sexual abuse and harassment.