Harvey Weinstein ousted from film academy

Harvey Weinsteinhas been kicked out of theAcademy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences following an emergency board meeting in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The disgraced mogul, who was fired a week ago from the namesake company he co-founded following sexual harassment and assault allegations dating back decades, has been expelled from the academy andstripped of his voting rights.

"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 wilful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behaviour and workplace harassment in our industry is over," said a statement Saturday from the academy.

The decision taken by the 54-member boardisrare.Onlyone otherperson isthought to have beenoustedfrom the academy character actorCarmineCaridi. Hismembership wasrevoked in 2004 forlendingDVDscreeners of Oscar-contendingfilms whichended up on the Internet.

Weinsteinstillholds an Oscar as a producer for the 1999 best-picture winner Shakespeare in Love.

Crisis management

The academy, which introducedhundreds of new members in response to the #oscarssowhite controversy,has been criticized for turning a blind eye toallegations againstprominent figures in the past.

Woody Allen,Casey Affleckand Roman Polanski have all won Oscars despite allegations of sexual misconduct. In Polanksi's case, he went on to win the prestigious prize for directingThe Pianistin 2003 after being convicted of having sex with a 13-year-old girl in 1978.

Bill Cosby, accused of sexually assaulting dozens of women over the years,is still an academy member.

Bob Weinsteinawarebrother was 'philandering'

BobWeinstein,chair of TheWeinsteinCompany, said he "did not know the extent" of his brother's actions,but that he was aware that Harvey was allegedly unfaithful to his wife, "philandering with every woman he could meet."

"I want him to get the justice he deserves," he toldthe Hollywood Reporter in an interviewpublished Saturday, adding he believes his brother"definitely should be kicked out of the academy."

"I don't feel an ounce of remorse coming from him," said Bob Weinstein.

On Friday, hesaid in a statementthe company is not shutting down or exploring a sale.He added the group is still planning to release severalfilms,includingPolaroidandPaddington2, as scheduled.

There was no mention, however,of the Oscar hopefulThe Current Warstarring BenedictCumberbatch, originally expectedto be released by TheWeinsteinCompanyin November.

Decisions to come

France intends to revokeHarvey Weinstein's Legion of Honour, the country'shighest civilian distinction, President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday.

The Producers Guild of America willholdan emergency boardmeeting on Monday to decide whether Weinsteinshould be kicked out of theorganization. In 2012,he received thePGA'sMilestone Awardwith his brother, an honorary trophy which has been awarded to well-known filmmakers such asClintEastwood, Ron Howard and Steven Spielberg in the past.

Weinstein's membership in the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) was suspended earlier thisweek.

Police in New York and London have saidthey're taking a fresh look at sexual harassment and assault allegations.

Women continue to come forward

Stories are mounting as womencontinue to come forward about Weinstein'sinappropriate behaviour toward them, typically early in their careers.

• Harvey Weinsteinscandal: Angelina Jolie, GwynethPaltrowallege harassment

The latest includes Canadian filmmaker Sarah Polley, who, in an opinion piece for the New York Times, explained how Weinsteindemanded she go to his hotel room when she was 19. Shesays he then strongly impliedhe could make her a star if they had a "close relationship."

"For years, I heard the horrible stories that are now chilling so many people to their core," she wrote in the Sunday Review."Like so many, I didn't know what to do with all of it. I've grown up in this industry, surrounded by predatory behaviour, and the idea of making people care about it seemed as distant an ambition as pulling the sun out of the sky."

Polleyis among other Canadians in the industry speaking out. Montreal actress Erika Rosenbaum allegesWeinsteinharassed and assaulted her on three separate occasions.

British actress Lysette Anthony told the Sunday Times that Weinsteinraped her in the 1980s and has reported it to police.

Anthony says Weinsteinattacked her after showing up at her London home, making her feel "disgusted and embarassed."

It was reported this week that London police were investigating a rape allegation against the producer relating to an incident in the '80s. The city's Metropolitan Police confirmed their investigation without identifying Weinstein by name.London police alsoannounced Sundaytheyare investigating three new sexual assault allegationsagainst Weinstein all by the same woman. Once again, they did not identify him by name.

Hollywood actresses Minka Kelly and Kate Beckinsale also recentlyrevealedtheir encounters. They join otherssuch as GwynethPaltrow, Angelina Jolie, MiraSorvino and Rose McGowanwho havealso shared their experiences publicly after years of staying silent.

For every moment like this there have been thousands where a vulnerable person has confided outrageous unprofessional behaviour and found they have no recourse.- Kate Beckinsale, actress

Beckinsale said she was called to Weinstein's hotel room at the age of 17, where she says"he opened the door in his bathrobe." She recounted that she was able to leave by saying she had school in the morning, but that her reluctance to work with himharmed her career.

"For every moment like this there have been thousands where a vulnerable person has confided outrageous unprofessional behaviour and found they have no recourse, due to an atmosphere of fear that it seems almost everyone has been living in," the Serendipity and Love & Friendship actressposted Thursday on Instagram.

• Montreal actress Erika Rosenbaum says Harvey Weinstein harassed, assaulted her
• Twitter lifts suspension on Rose McGowan, vocal critic in Weinstein scandal

Kelly said at a restaurant meeting that was initially scheduled to be held at his hotel room, Weinstein "regaled me with offers of a lavish life filled with trips around the world on private planes etc. IF I would be his girlfriend."

"All I knew was not to offend this very powerful man and to get out of the situation as quickly as possible," Kelly, who appeared inLee Daniels' The Butler,wrote on Instagram Friday."I told him while flattered, I'd like to keep things professional. He said 'Fine. I trust you won't tell anyone about this.'"

Earlier this week, two Canadian actresses also came forward with harassment claims against Weinstein.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.