LOS ANGELES, March 16 (Xinhua) -- President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences John Bailey is under investigation for allegations of sexual harassment, local media reported Friday.
The academy received three harassment claims on Wednesday and immediately opened a probe, according to Variety, a weekly American entertainment trade magazine.
"The Academy treats any complaints confidentially to protect all parties. The Membership Committee reviews all complaints brought against Academy members according to our Standards of Conduct process," said the organization in a statement on Friday, but did not specify any allegation.
Bailey, 75, has not yet commented on the report.
Bailey, who is an American cinematographer and film director, has led the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences since last year, shortly before Hollywood was shell-shocked by high-profile allegations about abuse.
Last October, the academy voted to expel Harvey Weinstein less than 10 days after the New York Times broke the bombshell sex scandals about the Hollywood mogul.
The academy later unveiled a new code of conduct governing workplace misconduct in response to the allegations.
If Bailey is forced to step down, he will be temporarily replaced by Lois Burwell, a veteran makeup artist who is the Academy's vice president, until the next election in July, said Variety.
