LOS ANGELES — The organization that bestows the Academy Awards said Thursday that it has expelled two prominent members convicted of sexual offences, Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski, from its membership. Polanski’s attorney Harland Braun said Thursday the decision “blindsided” the director, who learned of his expulsion from media reports. Braun accused the academy of failing to follow its rules and give Polanski’s team a chance to respond to efforts to expel him. The academy wrote in a statement that its board of governors met Tuesday night and voted on Polanski and Cosby’s status in accordance with the new standards. The film academy came under intense scrutiny following Weinstein’s expulsion and the rise of the #MeToo movement for some of its active members, like Cosby, Polanski and Mel Gibson.

Source: National Post May 03, 2018 18:33 UTC