Oscars Board Has Only Booted 1 Member Before Weinstein

The swift move by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to revoke Harvey Weinstein's membership was virtually unprecedented, reports the AP. The decision was reached in an emergency session by the world's top movie organization and home to the Oscars. Only one person is thought to have been previously expelled from the academy: Carmine Caridi, a character actor who had his membership revoked in 2004 for lending DVD screeners of films in contention for Oscars that ended up online. The academy's swift and severe ruling against Weinstein may raise questions about other members who remain in good standing. These include Roman Polanski and Bill Cosby.

"What's at issue here," said the academy in a statement, "is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society." Brother Bob Weinstein says, "I want him to get the justice that he deserves." On Wednesday, Harvey Weinstein's membership in the British Academy of Film and Television Arts was revoked.

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