Academy votes to expel Bill Cosby, Roman Polanksi

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has voted to expel actor Bill Cosby and director Roman Polanski, an Oscar winner, over the allegations of sexual assault against the two men.

A press release Thursday from the Academy stated that members of the group’s Board of Governors met Tuesday night and voted to expel the two longtime members, both of whom face allegations of rape.

Cosby was found guilty on three counts of sexual assault last week and now faces the possibility of decades in prison. Polanski, who was charged with statutory rape in 1977, fled the country before he could be imprisoned after pleading guilty to sexual abuse of a minor.

{mosads}”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 Academy said in a statement.

“The Board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy’s values of respect for human dignity,” the statement continues.

This week’s expulsions follow the Academy’s decision last year to expel movie mogul Harvey Weinstein from the organization after the producer was accused of numerous acts of sexual misconduct and assault stretching back decades.

“We do so not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over,” the Academy’s board said in a statement at the time.

In March, the organization cleared Academy president John Bailey, who was facing his own allegations of sexual harassment, stating that “no further action” would be taken. Bailey denied the accusations.