Roman Polanski's wife invited to join Oscars body
27 June 2018
Roman Polanski's wife has been invited to become a member of the awards body behind the Oscars, just weeks after it expelled her husband. French actress Emmanuelle Seigner will be able to take part in Oscar voting if she takes up the invitation. Polanski, who faces historic statutory rape charges in the US, was ejected from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in May. The 84-year-old director is currently suing the Academy over the expulsion. Seigner has worked with her husband on films including Bitter Moon, Venus in Fur and The Ninth Gate. The 52-year-old has also appeared in The Man Who Laughs and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. In December the Academy issued a new code of conduct for its members that outlined its plans to address sexual harassment in the film industry. It came in response to the allegations of sexual misconduct against Harvey Weinstein and others in the ensuing #MeToo campaign. Academy CEO Dawn Hudson wrote a letter to all 8,427 members telling them they would be expected to abide by the new guidelines. "There is no place in the Academy for people who abuse their status, power or influence in a manner that violates recognised standards of decency," she wrote. Polanski admitted unlawful sex with Samantha Geimer, who was a minor in 1977, and served 42 days in prison. The Rosemary's Baby director subsequently fled the US over concern that a plea bargain deal would be scrapped. Weinstein was the first person to be kicked out of the Academy in recent years, in the wake of the sexual abuse scandal. The mogul, whose films have received more than 300 Oscar nominations, was expelled from the organisation in October. Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex and pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges earlier this month. In May, the decision was taken to expel Polanski along with disgraced TV star Bill Cosby. Actor Carmine Caridi lost his membership in 2004 for sharing copies of film screeners. Retired NBA star Kobe Bryant had his invitation rescinded earlier this month, despite winning an Oscar in March for animated short Dear Basketball. It was reported that Bryant had been approved for membership but that the decision was overruled by the Academy's governors committee. Bryant, who has yet to respond, was accused of sexual assault in 2003. The charges were eventually dropped after the alleged victim refused to testify. Get Out's Daniel Kaluuya, Game of Thrones actress Lena Headey and Star Wars star Daisy Ridley are among the British performers to have been invited to join. Harry Potter creator JK Rowling has also been invited after writing and producing the Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. This year saw the largest number of new members ever invited to join the Academy. More than a third are from minorities, part of a push to double the number of women and ethnic minorities in the institution by 2020. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.
In December the Academy issued a new code of conduct for its members that outlined its plans to address sexual harassment in the film industry. It came in response to the allegations of sexual misconduct against Harvey Weinstein and others in the ensuing #MeToo campaign. Academy CEO Dawn Hudson wrote a letter to all 8,427 members telling them they would be expected to abide by the new guidelines. "There is no place in the Academy for people who abuse their status, power or influence in a manner that violates recognised standards of decency," she wrote. Polanski admitted unlawful sex with Samantha Geimer, who was a minor in 1977, and served 42 days in prison. The Rosemary's Baby director subsequently fled the US over concern that a plea bargain deal would be scrapped.
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Why was Polanski expelled?
Weinstein was the first person to be kicked out of the Academy in recent years, in the wake of the sexual abuse scandal. The mogul, whose films have received more than 300 Oscar nominations, was expelled from the organisation in October. Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex and pleaded not guilty to rape and sexual assault charges earlier this month. In May, the decision was taken to expel Polanski along with disgraced TV star Bill Cosby. Actor Carmine Caridi lost his membership in 2004 for sharing copies of film screeners.
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Has anyone else been expelled?
Retired NBA star Kobe Bryant had his invitation rescinded earlier this month, despite winning an Oscar in March for animated short Dear Basketball. It was reported that Bryant had been approved for membership but that the decision was overruled by the Academy's governors committee. Bryant, who has yet to respond, was accused of sexual assault in 2003. The charges were eventually dropped after the alleged victim refused to testify.
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Has anyone else been affected?
Get Out's Daniel Kaluuya, Game of Thrones actress Lena Headey and Star Wars star Daisy Ridley are among the British performers to have been invited to join. Harry Potter creator JK Rowling has also been invited after writing and producing the Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. This year saw the largest number of new members ever invited to join the Academy. More than a third are from minorities, part of a push to double the number of women and ethnic minorities in the institution by 2020.
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Who else has been invited this year?