Oscars president keeps job after harassment claim

The president of the organisation that hands out the Oscars will keep his job after being investigated over sexual harassment.

Cinematographer John Bailey, 75, had reportedly been accused of trying to touch a woman inappropriately while on a film set.

In a statement, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said it had unanimously decided no further action would be taken against him.

The statement said: “The academy took the claim very seriously and was aware of the rights of both the claimant and the accused, including consulting with outside counsel with expertise in matters related to harassment.

“The findings and recommendations of the committee were reported to the board which endorsed its recommendation.

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“John Bailey remains president of the academy.”

The membership and administration committee and its sub-committee took Bailey’s response, the claim and corroborating statements into account, the academy said.

Bailey was elected to the four-year position in August and, since then, has overseen the expulsion of disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein after allegations of sexual harassment and assault.

Bailey helped bring in a new code of conduct for the film industry and is reported to have told an Oscar nominee luncheon that he was glad the “fossilised bedrock of many of Hollywood’s worst abuses are being jack-hammered into oblivion”.

In the wake of the founding of the #MeToo movement, the investigation was started after a report in Variety revealed the academy had received three claims of sexual harassment against Bailey.

But the magazine later said that only one allegation had been made.

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Bailey’s film work includes American Gigolo and Groundhog Day.

He was awarded the American Society of Cinematographers Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015.

While he has not commented publicly about the allegation, he had reportedly sent a memo to staff about it.

He said: “I am alleged to have attempted to touch a woman inappropriately while we were both riding in a transport van on a movie set. That did not happen.

“Because I know the facts, I expect they will conclude that there is no basis to take any action against me.”

After Weinstein lost his membership, Mr Bailey had said in a memo to members that the academy “can be a part of a larger initiative to define standards of behaviour and to support the vulnerable women and men who may be at personal and career risk because of violations of ethical standards by their peers”.

(c) Sky News 2018: Oscars president keeps job after harassment claim