The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences bypassed its new three-month-old grievance procedures to expel disgraced members Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski on Thursday, TheWrap has learned.
Instead, the Academy exercised a clause in its bylaws allowing the 54-person Board of Governors to expel any member “for cause” with a two-thirds vote. According to an individual with knowledge of the situation, the board was motivated in part by the fact that both Cosby and Polanski had been convicted of sexually related crimes in U.S. courts.
But Polanski’s lawyer, Harland Braun, said Friday that the Oscar-winning director was “blindsided” by the expulsion and asked “the Academy to follow its own rules which is to give Roman 10 days notice to present his side.”
Also Read: Roman Polanski 'Blindsided' by Expulsion From Movie Academy, Plans to Appeal
Turns out there’s a loophole that allowed the board to act as it did. Asked about whether the Academy had followed the due-process procedures outlined in the updated grievances process announced in January, a spokesperson cited the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, Section 8.
“The Board of Governors retains its independent duty and authority as outlined in the bylaws to address and take action on any matter, whether submitted by the process outlined above or not, related to a member’s status and to enforce the Academy’s Standards of Conduct,” reads the section. In other words, the board retains the right to step in and discipline members regardless of whether a formal grievance process has been triggered.
In addition, the Academy bylaws state: “any member of the Academy may be suspended or expelled for cause by the Board of Governors. Expulsion or suspension as herein provided for shall require the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of all the Governors.”
Also Read: Film Academy Expels Roman Polanski, Bill Cosby
According to the Academy’s revised Code of Conduct, issued in January, when a claim of misconduct is brought to the attention of the Membership and Administration Committee for review, the committee has the option of taking no action, or “notifying the subject of the claim in writing, at the member’s current address on file with the Membership Department, and provide the member with an opportunity to respond in writing within 10 business days.”
Additionally, “once the subject of a claim has been notified, and the time frame for response has passed, the Membership and Administration Committee will review the full complaint in a timely manner and may,” if the matter is serious enough “refer it to the Board of Governors. Only the Board can make the final determination on whether to suspend or expel a member.”
The Code says the member will be informed in writing of any final decision made, at which point “the member shall be entitled to appeal the decision within 10 business days.”
According to the Associated Press, Polanski learned of his expulsion from media reports.
Also Read: Film Academy Expels Roman Polanski, Bill Cosby
Polanski was expelled 15 years after his film “The Pianist” took home Oscars for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor at the 75th Academy Awards. The film was nominated for Best Picture, but lost to “Chicago.”
Polanski was arrested and charged with raping 13-year-old Samantha Geimer in 1977. He pleaded guilty and was imprisoned for 42 days, after which he was released and put on probation as part of a plea bargain. When Polanski learned that a judge was planning to revoke the plea deal, the director fled Paris before the sentencing.
Cosby, a longtime Academy member best known for his work in TV, last week was convicted of three counts of aggravated indecent assault in over accusations made by former Temple University employee Andrea Constand.
Steve Pond contributed to this report.
Read original story Oscars Academy Board Bypassed New Grievance Procedures to Expel Polanski, Cosby At TheWrap...
Instead, the Academy exercised a clause in its bylaws allowing the 54-person Board of Governors to expel any member “for cause” with a two-thirds vote. According to an individual with knowledge of the situation, the board was motivated in part by the fact that both Cosby and Polanski had been convicted of sexually related crimes in U.S. courts.
But Polanski’s lawyer, Harland Braun, said Friday that the Oscar-winning director was “blindsided” by the expulsion and asked “the Academy to follow its own rules which is to give Roman 10 days notice to present his side.”
Also Read: Roman Polanski 'Blindsided' by Expulsion From Movie Academy, Plans to Appeal
Turns out there’s a loophole that allowed the board to act as it did. Asked about whether the Academy had followed the due-process procedures outlined in the updated grievances process announced in January, a spokesperson cited the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, Section 8.
“The Board of Governors retains its independent duty and authority as outlined in the bylaws to address and take action on any matter, whether submitted by the process outlined above or not, related to a member’s status and to enforce the Academy’s Standards of Conduct,” reads the section. In other words, the board retains the right to step in and discipline members regardless of whether a formal grievance process has been triggered.
In addition, the Academy bylaws state: “any member of the Academy may be suspended or expelled for cause by the Board of Governors. Expulsion or suspension as herein provided for shall require the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of all the Governors.”
Also Read: Film Academy Expels Roman Polanski, Bill Cosby
According to the Academy’s revised Code of Conduct, issued in January, when a claim of misconduct is brought to the attention of the Membership and Administration Committee for review, the committee has the option of taking no action, or “notifying the subject of the claim in writing, at the member’s current address on file with the Membership Department, and provide the member with an opportunity to respond in writing within 10 business days.”
Additionally, “once the subject of a claim has been notified, and the time frame for response has passed, the Membership and Administration Committee will review the full complaint in a timely manner and may,” if the matter is serious enough “refer it to the Board of Governors. Only the Board can make the final determination on whether to suspend or expel a member.”
The Code says the member will be informed in writing of any final decision made, at which point “the member shall be entitled to appeal the decision within 10 business days.”
According to the Associated Press, Polanski learned of his expulsion from media reports.
Also Read: Film Academy Expels Roman Polanski, Bill Cosby
Polanski was expelled 15 years after his film “The Pianist” took home Oscars for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor at the 75th Academy Awards. The film was nominated for Best Picture, but lost to “Chicago.”
Polanski was arrested and charged with raping 13-year-old Samantha Geimer in 1977. He pleaded guilty and was imprisoned for 42 days, after which he was released and put on probation as part of a plea bargain. When Polanski learned that a judge was planning to revoke the plea deal, the director fled Paris before the sentencing.
Cosby, a longtime Academy member best known for his work in TV, last week was convicted of three counts of aggravated indecent assault in over accusations made by former Temple University employee Andrea Constand.
Steve Pond contributed to this report.
Read original story Oscars Academy Board Bypassed New Grievance Procedures to Expel Polanski, Cosby At TheWrap...
- 5/4/2018
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Similar News
Karlovy Vary Sets Franz Kafka Retrospective For 58th Edition; Fest Will Screen Digitally Restored Version Of 1978 Czech Title ‘Shadows Of A Hot Summer’
- 4/23/2024
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Announces ‘Franz Kafka and the Cinema’ Retrospective at 58th Edition
- 4/23/2024
- by Christian Zilko
- Indiewire
‘Dune 2’ Casting Director Francine Maisler to Be Honored at Karlovy Vary Film Festival
- 4/23/2024
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Can Sexual Predators Still Work on Kids Sets? Here’s the Federal Loophole That Could Let Them
- 4/17/2024
- by Kalia Richardson
- Rollingstone.com
Kenan Thompson Made His TV Debut 30 Years Ago Today
- 4/16/2024
- by Nick Riccardo
- LateNighter
Dr. Hibbert's Name In The Simpsons Is Secretly A Deep-Cut SNL Reference
- 4/8/2024
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Roman Polanski Rape Trial Set For Next Year; Director Accused Again Of Assaulting A Minor In 1970s, Oscar Winner Served At His Paris Home
- 3/12/2024
- by Dominic Patten
- Deadline Film + TV
The Most Disgusting Oscars Event is a Permanent Stain on The Academy That’s Even More Despicable Than Will Smith Slapping Chris Rock
- 3/10/2024
- by Nishanth A
- FandomWire
6 Most Controversial Oscar Decisions That Will Make Your Blood Boil for the Sheer Disrespect
- 3/10/2024
- by Ariane Cruz
- FandomWire
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
’28 Years Later’ Adds Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes
- 4/24/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
American Black Film Festival 2024 Lineup Includes Vivica A. Fox and Jussie Smollett-Starring Drama (Exclusive)
- 4/24/2024
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety - Film News
‘Wednesday’ Season 2 Casts Thandiwe Newton (Exclusive)
- 4/23/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Terry Carter, ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and ‘McCloud’ Actor, Dies at 95
- 4/23/2024
- by Lexi Carson
- Variety - Film News
The G-Wagen Goes All-Electric With an L.A. Bash, Travis Scott Performance and Bradley Cooper Ad
- 4/25/2024
- by Jon Alain Guzik
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
’28 Years Later’ Adds Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes
- 4/24/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
Julio Torres's "Problemista" Shows the US Immigration System Is a Relentless Maze
- 4/24/2024
- by Johanna Ferreira
- Popsugar.com
Chuwi Is the Voice of a New Puerto Rican Generation
- 4/23/2024
- by Juan Arroyo
- Popsugar.com
Camila Mendes on Why We Need More Latine Representation in Rom-Coms
- 4/22/2024
- by Brenda Barrientos
- Popsugar.com
Saraciea Fennell: "The Black Girl Survives in This One" Is the Representation I Didn't See in Horror Books
- 4/22/2024
- by Saraciea Fennell
- Popsugar.com
Every Zendaya Role Ranked: ‘Challengers,’ ‘Dune,’ ‘Euphoria,’ and More
- 4/25/2024
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Rushes | Participant Shutters, Hollywood Rebounds, Scorsese’s Sinatra
- 4/24/2024
- MUBI
Mark Ruffalo Says He Is Recognized ‘Way More’ for ’13 Going on 30′ Than for MCU’s Hulk
- 4/24/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
Accident Video on ‘The Pickup’ Set Shows Vehicles Flipping Over
- 4/24/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
The 12 Best Tennis Movies, from ‘Strangers on a Train’ to ‘Challengers’
- 4/24/2024
- by Wilson Chapman and Mark Peikert
- Indiewire
’28 Years Later’ Adds Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes
- 4/24/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety Film + TV
American Black Film Festival 2024 Lineup Includes Vivica A. Fox and Jussie Smollett-Starring Drama (Exclusive)
- 4/24/2024
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety - Film News
Jennifer Aniston to Produce ‘9 to 5’ Reimagining for 20th Century Studios
- 4/25/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety - Film News
Rebel Wilson’s Memoir to Be Published in U.K. With Sacha Baron Cohen Allegations Redacted
- 4/25/2024
- by Michaela Zee
- Variety - Film News
Korea Box Office: Don Lee’s ‘The Roundup: Punishment’ Takes Punchy $5 Million on Opening Day
- 4/25/2024
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety - Film News
‘Wednesday’ Season 2 Casts Thandiwe Newton (Exclusive)
- 4/23/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety - TV News
Terry Carter, ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and ‘McCloud’ Actor, Dies at 95
- 4/23/2024
- by Lexi Carson
- Variety - Film News
Weds Night Monologues: Ukraine Aid and Kanye Porn
- 4/25/2024
- by Dennis Perkins
- LateNighter
‘Not Dead Yet’: Gina Rodriguez Shares Hopes for Season 3
- 4/25/2024
- TV Insider
‘The Masked Singer’: Miss Cleocatra Reveals How Her Friends Convinced Her to Say Yes to the Show
- 4/25/2024
- TV Insider