The Academy Has Kicked Out Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski

On Thursday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that it was expelling Roman Polanski and Bill Cosby from its membership.

In a statement to Jezebel, the Academy wrote:

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors met on Tuesday night (May 1) and has voted to expel actor Bill Cosby and director Roman Polanski from its membership in accordance with the organization’s Standards of Conduct. The Board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy’s values of respect for human dignity.

Bill Cosby was found guilty of sexual assault last month after nearly 60 women total accused him of assault, coercion, drugging for decades. Roman Polanski was arrested and charged for sexually assaulting a minor in 1977, to which he pleaded guilty before fleeing the country. Since then, other women have come forward to accuse the director of sexual misconduct and assault. In October 2017 the Academy also expelled Harvey Weinstein from membership after dozens of women accused the producer of sexual misconduct and assault.