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Producers Guild Votes Unanimously to Expel Harvey Weinstein

Harvey Weinstein / Getty Images
October 16, 2017

The Producers Guild of America on Monday moved to expel Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein from its ranks after dozens of women accused him of sexual harassment and abuse dating back nearly three decades.

The group's board voted unanimously at a meeting to "institute termination proceedings" against Weinstein, which will give him an opportunity to respond before the guild makes its official decision on Nov. 6, according to CNN.

The PGA's action follows a similar vote by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences board on Saturday, and the suspension of Weinstein's membership in its British academy counterpart, or BAFTA. The Television Academy is also slated to take up Weinstein's status later this week.

In its statement, the Guild called sexual harassment "a systemic and pervasive problem requiring immediate industry-wide action." Toward that end, the organization—whose board and officers consist of 20 women, and 18 men—announced the creation of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Task Force, charged with "researching and proposing substantive and effective solutions" in the entertainment industry.

The moves to shun Weinstein come after the New York Times and the New Yorker both reported earlier this month that Weinstein, an Oscar-winning producer and Democratic mega-donor, has been accused of sexually harassing dozens of women, including actresses Ashley Judd and Rose McGowan. The reports sparked outrage among some Hollywood celebrities and Democratic leaders, and led to surprising silence or delayed responses from others who had previously spoken out for women, particularly victims of sexual assault.

The Producers Guild has praised Weinstein and his brother, Bob, in the past, including in 2013 when the group presented the brothers with its "Milestone Award," which recognized their contributions to the entertainment industry.

The PGA has over 7,500 members and is classified as a nonprofit trade group, which protects and advances the interests of producers.

Weinstein was recently fired from his film studio, The Weinstein Company, and has been expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.