LOS ANGELES, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced Monday that Harvey Weinstein, who was investigated by the London, New York and Los Angeles Police Departments for sexual harassment, had been formally expelled from the organization.
In a statement released Monday, the 7,000-member guild said: "In light of Mr. Weinstein's widely reported behavior -- with new reports continuing to surface even now -- the Producers Guild's National Board has voted unanimously to enact a lifetime ban on Mr. Weinstein, permanently barring him from PGA membership."
The guild's board of directors voted unanimously to expel Weinstein on Oct. 16, but according to the group's regulation, the disgraced producer has 15 days to appeal, so Monday is the time that he was officially deprived of membership.
"Sexual harassment can no longer be tolerated in our industry or within the ranks of Producers Guild membership. As stated previously, the PGA's officers and national board of directors have created the Anti-Sexual Harassment Task Force specifically charged with researching and proposing substantive and effective solutions to combat sexual harassment in the entertainment industry," the statement said.
The New York Times broke the bombshell story about Weinstein in early October after an exhaustive six-month investigation, disclosing explosive allegations of Weinstein's 30-year pattern of sexual harassment and workplace intimidation against young female stars and employees dependent on his largesse for jobs and career advancement.
Hollywood was shell-shocked by the sex scandal involving the 65-year-old Hollywood mogul who has more than 300 producing credits, and expelled him from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS).
So far, Weinstein has been accused of sexual misconduct, including harassment and assault, by over 50 women, with incidents dating back to the 1970s.
