Twitter Has Questions About Motion Picture Academy Expelling Weinstein: What About Cosby? Polanski?
The Twitterverse yielded a variety of reactions today after Harvey Weinstein was kicked out of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as he faces a growing number of sexual harassment claims.
The board confirmed that they held a vote on the matter, and they acknowledged a culture of “complicity” in Hollywood which kept Weinstein’s actions under wraps for years. Their statement also said that the decision was “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”.
Many people reacted to the news by viewing it as a welcome indication that Hollywood will change for the better:
Proud of the @TheAcademy! Harvey Weinstein is out. There are others- but hopefully we are witnessing the end of an awful era.
— Mia Farrow (@MiaFarrow) October 14, 2017
This is huge!! I applaud the academy for taking this unprecedented first step! @foxnews @foxandfriends https://t.co/tBgNzgMy1R
— Michael Tammero (@FOXlightMichael) October 14, 2017
As a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences I am proud of their decision to expel Harvey Weinstein.
— Ron Perlman (@perlmutations) October 14, 2017
Let this be the beginning of real change not just in Hollywood, but all industries. And schools, churches etc. No more culture of silence. https://t.co/P9gZK2tMoS
— Abdi Nazemian (@Abdaddy) October 14, 2017
The Academy Govs knew they'd be called hypocrites today for expelling Weinstein. Good for them for doing it anyway. Gotta start sometime.
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) October 14, 2017
Some are still bringing up the comparisons between Weinstein and Trump:
“Harvey was the Trump of the movie industry.” https://t.co/DjdCIIclA4
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) October 14, 2017
Here’s the difference: the movie academy voted Weinstein out. The GOP voted Trump in.
— Bill Prady (@billprady) October 14, 2017
So now that we’ve dealt with Weinstein what are we going to do about Trump?
— Josh Gad (@joshgad) October 14, 2017
Finally, there’s quite a few people on Twitter who are reminding everyone that Weinstein is hardly the first entertainment industry heavyweight to to face legal problems or fall into disgrace from a major controversy. As such, there are questions of whether this will have implications for Academy members like Roman Polanski, Bill Cosby, Woody Allen and Mel Gibson:
So @TheAcademy has voted to expel Harvey Weinstein. Good. A reminder that Roman Polanski and Bill Cosby are still members. Keep going. pic.twitter.com/zf2QmJzkh6
— April (@ReignOfApril) October 14, 2017
"The academy said it would 'work to establish ethical standards of conduct that all academy members will be expected to exemplify.'"
Will be interesting to see how this plays out considering Polanski, Cosby and Gibson cases (Allen isn't a member). https://t.co/8vwFjC1BJM
— Monica Castillo (@mcastimovies) October 14, 2017
…So, why is @TheAcademy still allowing Roman Polanski to be a member? https://t.co/nhRirQjkMX
— Frank Luntz (@FrankLuntz) October 14, 2017
OK so the Academy kicked out Harvey Weinstein.
But not Roman Polanski, Bill Cosby, or Woody Allen.
Oh.
— Militia Etheridge (@MaryEmilyOHara) October 14, 2017
Next up: Bill Cosby? Roman Polanski? Mel Gibson?
— Lydia Polgreen (@lpolgreen) October 14, 2017
BREAKING: Oscars Academy expels Harvey Weinstein over 'sexually predatory behaviour'.
* Child rapist Roman Polanski remains a member. pic.twitter.com/fRlzcXYaZp
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) October 14, 2017
[Image via screengrab]
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