‘Why so long?’ Oscars body criticized after expelling sex offenders Polanski & Cosby
Former stars and convicted rapists Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski have been dumped from the prestigious body governing the Oscars. Controversy soon erupted, however, as Cosby is just-convicted but Polanski’s case was 40 years ago.
The board of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences met on Tuesday to vote on the matter, according to a statement, and the decision was made that each star’s membership be terminated.
“The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences board of governors met… and has voted to expel actor Bill Cosby and director Roman Polanski from its membership, in accordance with the organisation’s standards of conduct,” the organization’s statement read.
“The board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy’s values of respect for human dignity,” it added.
READ MORE: Guilty: Bill Cosby convicted of sexual assault
However, the public seems not to have been satisfied with the decision, mocking the Oscars body for thinking too long, because, while Cosby was found guilty last week, Polanski’s story drags back to 1977.
Worth noting how long Polanski's been guilty, AKA how long they sat on that and were totally ok with him staying in the academy It's good that things are changing now, if slowly. But worth noting no1 needs to wait for a new giant news story to act. https://t.co/3Ehsjty8UE
— A.B. (@AlannaBennett) May 3, 2018
Why did the Academy wait for Bill Cosby to be convicted to expel Roman Polanski?Fact - Hollywood endorses pedophiles, and they are expelling Polanski only because it would be seen as racist to expel Cosby alone.
— Mike Cernovich 🇺🇸 (@Cernovich) May 3, 2018
Roman Polanski: HEY! WHAT DID I DO???Random passerby whispers in his earRoman Polanski: Oh yeah. https://t.co/RQPd0wBM7N
— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) May 3, 2018
Bill Cosby was just convicted of sexual assault, so this news makes sense in his case. Roman Polanski was convicted 40 years ago. What took so long? https://t.co/nRH6fqkREx
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) May 3, 2018
BREAKING: The Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences has voted to kick out Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski. What do they want? Applause? The fact that it took this long to boot Polanski, a convicted pedophile, is unconscionable.
— Carmine Sabia (@CarmineSabia) May 3, 2018
The Academy just kicked out Roman Polanski. Let this be a lesson to any who would harm women: You only get like 40-50 years and one best director Oscar before the hammer drops!
— The Reader Film (@thereaderfilm) May 3, 2018
Comedy entertainer Bill Cosby was last week found guilty on three counts of aggravated indecent assault, relating to a 2004 incident in Philadelphia. The 80-year-old faces up to 30 years in prison.
Hollywood director Roman Polanski has been in exile from the US after a prosecution for sexual abuse committed against a 13-year-old girl in Los Angeles in 1977. Polanski fled to France in 1978 before he was sentenced and has not returned since.
Since his conviction, Polanski has been nominated for a number of awards and, in 2003, he won the Best Director Oscar for the film ‘The Pianist’.
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