Harvey Weinstein’s troubles have now crossed international borders. French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted and told reporters Sunday that he is “taking steps” to revoke Weinstein’s Legion of Honor award, which was given to Weinstein in 2012 by then President Nicolas Sarkozy.
“I launched procedures to, in effect, withdraw the Legion of Honor,” Macron said in a TV interview. “In any case, I have asked the grand chancellor to start disciplinary proceedings and he will make the decision. [Weinstein] received the decoration and I wish, since his actions are lacking in honor, that we take all consequences into account.”
Macron’s announcement came just one day after the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences board voted to expel Weinstein from the organization. Over two-thirds of the group’s 54 members voted to kick out the disgraced producer.
“We do so not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over,” the Academy said in a statement on Saturday.“What’s at issue here is a deeply troubling problem that has no place in our society. The Board continues to work to establish ethical standards of conduct that all Academy members will be expected to exemplify.”
British Prime Minister Theresa May has also hinted that she may encourage the Independent Honours Forfeiture Committee to revoke Weinstein’s C.B.E. honor after senior members of the Labour Party published an open letter asking that the government “act urgently and strip Mr. Weinstein of his honorary C.B.E.”
“The reports over the recent days are deeply concerning. Any unwanted sexual activity is completely unacceptable. Any allegation should be fully investigated. Anyone who comes forward to report these kind of allegations should be praised for their courage,” a spokesperson for May said in a statement last Wednesday. “The independent Honours Forfeiture Committee considers cases where the honours system has been brought into disrepute, their discussions are confidential. It’s right that we let them get on with their work.”
