Producers Guild of America Bans Harvey Weinstein for Life
UPDATE: The Television Academy voted Monday to “expel Harvey Weinstein from the Academy for life” following the dozens of sexual assault accusations against the producer.
“The Academy supports those speaking out against harassment in all forms and stands behind those who have been affected by this issue,” the Television Academy said in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter. “The unfolding and widespread examples of this horrific behavior are deeply disturbing to the Academy’s leadership. We have been in contact with leaders across the industry and share with them a deep sense of responsibility to provide clear workplace benchmarks reflecting decency and respect. As a result, we are expediting an already-begun detailed review and revision of our Television Academy membership codes of conduct. We are determined to play a role in protecting all television professionals from predatory harassment, ensuring they are able to practice their craft in a safe environment.”
As the head of Miramax and The Weinstein Company, Weinstein produced Emmy-nominated shows like Project Runway and Project Greenlight.
The Producers Guild of America previously announced that Harvey Weinstein has been banned for life from the organization following the sexual assault allegations against the producer.
The Hollywood Reporter writes that Weinstein officially resigned from the PGA on Monday; like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the producers’ guild was already in the process of expelling Weinstein after dozens of women came forward to accuse Weinstein of sexual assault.
“In light of Mr. Weinstein’s widely reported behavior — with new reports continuing to surface even now — the Producers Guild’s National Board has voted unanimously to enact a lifetime ban on Mr. Weinstein, permanently barring him from PGA membership,” the PGA said in a statement Monday.
“This unprecedented step is a reflection of the seriousness with which the Guild regards the numerous reports of Mr. Weinstein’s decades of reprehensible conduct. Sexual harassment can no longer be tolerated in our industry or within the ranks of Producers Guild membership. As stated previously, the PGA’s Officers and National Board of Directors have created the Anti-Sexual Harassment Task Force specifically charged with researching and proposing substantive and effective solutions to combat sexual harassment in the entertainment industry.”
As the head of both Miramax and the Weinstein Company, Harvey Weinstein was among the guild’s most notable members: In 2013, Harvey and Bob Weinstein were presented with the PGA’s Milestone Award, the guild’s highest honor, the Hollywood Reporter notes.
In the aftermath of the Weinstein scandal, the producer has also been barred from the Academy, suspended by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and fired from the company bearing his last name.