Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Over the last few days, A-listers and industry bigwigs have joined a race to put as much space between themselves and Harvey Weinstein as possible. After a series of explosive exposés from The New York Times and The New Yorker documenting years of sexual assault and harassment allegations, Weinstein was forced out of his own company, shamed by industry peers, and left by his wife. This morning, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts suspended Weinstein’s membership and issued a statement condemning his “unacceptable actions”, and British politicians are also calling for his honorary Commander of the British Empire status to be revoked. As the stories of his abuse continue to pour in, it seems inevitable that he will soon lose his place in Hollywood’s most hallowed halls – the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Weinstein boasts a long, complicated relationship with the Academy. Miramax and The Weinstein Company have distributed five Best Picture winners: The English Patient, Shakespeare in Love, Chicago, The King’s Speech, and The Artist. One study found that the producer was thanked more than God in acceptance speeches, he’s been poked fun at by the likes of Seth MacFarlane, and took home his own Oscar in 1999 for producing Shakespeare in Love.
In a statement released to Decider this afternoon, the Academy condemned Weinstein’s actions and announced that they would be holding an emergency board meeting to deliberate on Weinstein’s future with the organization:
“The Academy finds the conduct described in the allegations against Harvey Weinstein to be repugnant, abhorrent, and antithetical to the high standards of the Academy and the creative community it represents. The Board of Governors will be holding a special meeting on Saturday, October 14, to discuss the allegations against Weinstein and any actions warranted by the Academy.”
While the rescinding of an Oscar is unprecedented, the response to the allegations against him has also been unprecedented. Petitions are now calling for him to be expelled from the Academy – his expulsion would mark him as the second person ever to be kicked out. (The only other, Carmine Caridi, was expelled for sharing VHS screeners).
At this rate, it seems like it should be almost certain that Weinstein will lose his membership, but it’s worth noting that Roman Polanski, who pled guilty to statutory rape (and fled the United States before he could be sentenced), is still a member of the Academy – and has held onto all of his awards. The fate of Weinstein’s single Oscar remains to be seen.
