Before Will Smith, how did Oscars punish Roman Polanski, Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby?

The Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences’ choice to ban Will Smith from attending any of its occasions, together with the Oscars, for 10 years after he slapped Chris Rock is the most recent instance of the group punishing movie figures over accusations of wrongdoing.

Listed here are another high-profile examples of the academy taking motion from the pages of The Instances:

Roman Polanski

Background: Polanski, the director of “Chinatown” and “Rosemary’s Child,” pleaded responsible in 1977 to illegal intercourse with a minor, then-13-year-old Samantha Geimer. Since fleeing the nation, he has been residing in exile in Europe for the final 4 many years and is taken into account a fugitive by the U.S. legal justice system. A five-time Academy Award nominee, Polanski received the director Oscar for the 2002 drama “The Pianist” and acquired a standing ovation. Some questioned why the academy and film business continued to hail Polanski regardless of the conviction. He continued to direct films often to crucial reward. Through the years, not less than six different ladies have accused Polanski of sexually abusing them, with most of them saying the abuse occurred once they had been minors. None of these allegations resulted in legal costs, and he denied any wrongdoing by way of his attorneys in these instances.

Motion: In 2018, the academy expelled Polanski. His lawyer fought the transfer however the choice remained.

Invoice Cosby

Background: Cosby was convicted of three counts of sexual assault on April 26, 2018, capping a surprising fall from grace for the as soon as beloved comedian who starred on such TV hits as “I Spy” and “The Cosby Present” in addition to in films like “Uptown Saturday Night time.” Final yr, Cosby was free of jail after Pennsylvania’s highest courtroom overturned his sexual assault conviction. Within the Nineteen Sixties, “I Spy” positioned him as one of many first Black Individuals to star in a tv drama. NBC’s household sitcom “The Cosby Present,” which premiered in 1984, revolutionized community TV and solidified Cosby’s unofficial standing as “America’s dad.” However he had been accused for years of sexually assaulting dozens of ladies. Cosby has maintained his innocence.

Motion: The academy additionally expelled Cosby in 2018.

Harvey Weinstein

Background: The producer was as soon as an Oscar insider, along with his films often profitable statuettes. Then, a number of ladies accused him of sexual assault, sparking a significant second within the #MeToo motion. A Manhattan jury convicted him of rape in 2020 and he was sentenced to 23 years in jail. He’s now awaiting trial on costs that he sexually assaulted 5 ladies in Beverly Hills and Los Angeles over a decade-long span. He’s denied these costs and maintained his innocence within the New York case. When the accusations in opposition to Weinstein went public, the academy confronted criticism from some who felt the group ignored earlier warning indicators about his habits.

Motion: In 2017, the academy expelled him, making word of his shut ties to the group. “We accomplish that not merely to separate ourselves from somebody who doesn’t benefit the respect of his colleagues but additionally to ship a message that the period of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory habits and office harassment in our business is over. What’s at challenge here’s a deeply troubling drawback that has no place in our society. The Board continues to work to ascertain moral requirements of conduct that each one Academy members will likely be anticipated to exemplify.”