Film Academy Expels Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expelled actor Bill Cosby and Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski from its membership ranks on Thursday as the academy responded to sexual misconduct allegations roiling Hollywood.
Cosby and Polanski are the first known members expelled for violating a conduct code the Academy adopted in December following intense public pressure from hundreds of accusations of sexual harassment or assault in the entertainment industry.
The decision to remove Cosby and Polanski from the membership was made Tuesday, May 1 at a scheduled board meeting.
In a statement, the Academy announced that the governing board had voted to remove the two disgraced stars “in accordance with the organization’s standards of conduct”. The board continued “to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy’s values of respect for human dignity”.
The move comes a week after Cosby was convicted of three counts of aggravated indecent assault brought against him by Andrea Constand. Cosby has been accused of sexual assault by as many as 60 women, a few of which testified at the emotional hearing.
Cosby’s name has since been removed from the Television Academy website and he has lost an honorary degree from Yale. Cosby is currently awaiting sentencing. He faces up to 30 years in prison, and his attorney has vowed to appeal the conviction.
Polanski, 84, who won the best director Oscar in 2003 for “The Pianist,” in 1977 admitted to having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl in Los Angeles.
The Academy said in a statement its Board of Governors met on Tuesday and voted to remove Cosby and Polanski, who had been members since 1996 and 1969, respectively.
“The Board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy’s values of respect for human dignity,” the body whose 8,000 members vote on the Oscars said in the statement.
>Juthy Saha