Harvey Weinstein, posing during a photocall in Cannes, southeastern France, October 5, 2015. (AFP/Valery Hache/File)
LOS ANGELES — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has expelled Harvey Weinstein, it said on Saturday, amid mounting sexual harassment, assault and rape accusations against the disgraced Hollywood mogul.
An emergency meeting of its board “voted well in excess of the required two-thirds majority,” it said in a statement.
“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,” the statement read.
The move by the Academy is virtually unprecedented. The Academy is the world’s top movie organization and is home to the Oscars.
An avalanche of claims have surfaced since the publication last week of an explosive New York Times report alleging a history of abusive behavior by Weinstein dating back decades.
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On Thursday, American actress Rose McGowan became the fourth woman to accuse the 65-year-old movie mogul of raping her.
“What’s at issue here is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society,” said the Academy.
This combination of pictures shows US producer Harvey Weinstein and (1st row from L) US actress Rose McGowan, US actress Angelina Jolie, Italian actress Asia Argento, US actress Gwyneth Paltrow, US actress Ashley Judd; (2nd row fromL) French actress Lea Seydoux, US actress Mira Sorvino, US actress Rosanna Arquette, US actress Louisette Geiss, British actress Kate Beckinsale; (3rd row fromL) Television reporter Lauren Sivan, US actress Jessica Barth, US producer Elizabeth Karlsen, French actress Emma De Caunes, and French actress Judith Godreche (AFP PHOTO / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA AND AFP PHOTO / STAFF)
“The board continues to work to establish ethical standards of conduct that all Academy members will be expected to exemplify.”
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Weinstein was ousted a week ago from The Weinstein Co., the movie and TV production company he co-founded and which now is struggling to survive this scandal.
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