Roman Polanski Still Can’t Be A Member Of The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences

Roman Polanski, a name that is bound to make you feel grosser than when you find someone else’s hair in your food, or accidentally drinking long-expired milk. And why is that? Oh, you know, just the fact that he’s got a whole Wikipedia section dedicated to his extensive history as a predator. But Roman Polanski still doesn’t realize that many people don’t want to much to do with him these days. Like the entire board of the César Awards, who quit after his film J’Accuse was nominated this year, and were equally pissed when he ended up winning. Or the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, aka the Oscars people. They made it very clear they didn’t want Roman Polanski as a member of their Board of Governors, and yet, Roman keeps trying to get back in. Once again, the AMPAS has unceremoniously shooed him away. Take a hint, Roman.

AMPAS first gave Roman the boot back in May 2018, seven months after Hollywood’s #MeToo reckoning that had everyone finally confronting some of the worst predatory behavior happening in the entertainment industry. At that time, the Academy ejected Roman and Bill Cosby, a move that truly exemplified the term, “Better late than never.”

The decision to remove Roman from the Board of Governors was made in accordance with AMPAS’s Standards of Conduct, which I guess states that a certified creep can remain a member for as long as everyone is able to ignore their creepiness? They kicked him out five months after the LAPD opened a new investigation into an allegation made by a woman who accused Roman of molesting her at a photo shoot in 1975 when she was 10. Immediately after the Academy announced they had kicked Roman out, Roman’s attorney announced that they would be appealing the decision. I believe Roman might be the old man version of Stacy from Wayne’s World.

A year later, Roman sued the AMPAS to get his board member spot back, arguing that they didn’t give him any warning or a fair process of eviction. Variety reports that a judge denied Roman’s request. Judge Mary Strobel acknowledged that the Academy probably could have given Roman a little bit of a heads up, but that they were well within their right to kick him out. Judge Strobel’s decision was one that she made previously, but it was a tentative ruling that she made into her final order on the matter. Judge Strobel wrote:

“Board had cause to expel Petitioner. While the Board could have found the circumstances surrounding Petitioner’s continued fugitive status, including his allegations of serious judicial and prosecutorial misconduct, mitigated the need for expulsion, the Board’s decision is supported by the evidence, was not arbitrary or capricious, and was not an abuse of discretion.”

Roman’s attorney said that he won’t appeal. His attorney also made the laughable claim that Roman didn’t even want to be on the AMPAS board in the first place, he just wanted to see justice done.

Polanski’s attorney, Harland Braun, said he would probably not appeal. Asked why Academy membership was important to Polanski, Braun said it was not.

“It means nothing to him,” Braun said. “It’s the idea he’s being thrown out without any due process.”

Let me get this straight. Roman Polanski was only suing, solely because he wanted the Academy to take legal responsibility and be held accountable for their actions? The same Roman Polanski who has been on the run from the law since 1978 because he didn’t want to go to jail for the crimes he admitted he committed? The Roman Polanski who would be instantly arrested if a single toe touched American soil? Roman Polanski, the man who likely has a list of countries taped to his wall to remind him which ones will extradite him to the authorities if he visit? That same one? Ok just checking.

Pic: Wenn.com