#MeToo Movement Forces Oscars Academy to Expel Giants of Hollywood: Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski

Less than a year after the outing of Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein as a sexual predator, the #MeToo movement is catching up with other Hollywood giants who abused their position to prey on vulnerable women. The Oscar Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, expelled actor Bill Cosby, a week after his conviction for the rape of Andrea Constand – a female basketball player to whom he was a mentor. The Academy also announced the expulsion of French Director Roman Polanski, for being convicted of raping a 13-year-old girl in 1977.

The academy - which runs the Oscars - said this was done as the conviction of the two men proved their behaviour did not comply with the Academy’s standards of conduct. The announcement was made on Thursday - two days after its board members voted on the issue. In a statement, it said its board "has voted to expel actor Bill Cosby and director Roman Polanski from its membership in accordance with the organisation's Standards of Conduct". "The Board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy's values of respect for human dignity," it added.

The action by the Oscar Academy comes after it recently implemented a revised standard of conduct for its 8,400 members, including a provision to suspend or expel those who "compromise the integrity" of the organisation. Adopted in December, the code of conduct stipulates that the academy is no place for "people who abuse their status, power or influence in a manner that violates standards of decency." The organisation has in a way been forced into adopting this change as minorities in the industry – women, artists and technicians of colour question the Academy’s archaic attitude of not calling out injustices – from racism  to sexual abuse.

However, the Oscar Academy’s actions were not received by praise all around and many on social media questioned the organisation’s lethargy in expelling Polanski, who pleaded guilty to his crime almost 38 years ago and 15 years after he won a best director Oscar. Polanski fled the U.S. and the U.S. government tried to extradite him multiple times but was not successful.

Bill Cosby’s wife condemned the organisation’s decision, calling it "mob justice, not real justice".

Both the men it has expelled are now over 80 years of age and have their movie-making days behind them. The organisation has till date expelled just four people in its almost-100 years of existence. ­­­­­

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 04, 2018 07:13 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).