Harvey Weinstein Expelled From Academy, 'Harassment In This Industry Is Over'

Harvey Weinstein has officially been expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences following claims by several women in Hollywood that he has sexually harassed, assaulted, or raped them over the span of decades.

In an official statement, the Academy Board of Governors revealed they were expelling Weinstein's membership, explaining that it wasn't only an action being taken to separate themselves from the disgraced film producer, but to also take a stand and make a statement about such harassment still occurring in the field.

The statement reads as follows:

"The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and sciences Board of Governors met today to discuss the allegations against Harvey Weinstein, and has voted well in excess of the required two-thirds majority to immediately expel him from the Academy. 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. 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."

The news was met on social media with mixed reaction. While the decision to take action against Weinstein was applauded, the fact that members may have known of his actions for some time before they were exposed was still questioned, and some noted that it still seemed like it wasn't enough.

Several Hollywood actors and actresses and others within the industry took to social media to celebrate the decision however.

The news about Weinstein initially broke in a New York Times article on Oct. 5. In the story, Ashley Judd, as well as other women, came forward to level claims that Weinstein had sexually harassed them over the years.

Since that initial report, other women, including Rose McGowan, Kate Beckinsale, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Minka Kelly and Cara Delevingne have also come forward with their own tales of times they were harassed, or worse, by the movie producer.

After the story broke, he was suspended from his own company he shared with his brother, Bob, before being officially fired a few days later. His wife, Georgina Chapman, has also announced she was divorcing him, and he has reportedly entered a rehab facility in Arizona to receive treatment for sexual addiction.

Several members of the Hollywood elite, as well as politicians whom Weinstein donated to, have also since released statements condemning his behavior. Among them have been longtime collaborator Quentin Tarantino, Actors Tom Hanks and Ryan Gosling, and Actress Emma Thompson. Others who have added their condemnation to the mix have included Mark Ruffalo, Jessica Chastain, Meryl Streep, Kate Winslet, Judi Dench, Lena Dunham, Glenn Close, Brie Larson, America Ferrara, Christian Slater, Amber Tamblyn, Julianne Moore, George Clooney, Judd Apatow, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Olivia Wilde, Connie Britton, Stephen Colbert, Jennifer Lawrence, Mindy Kaling, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Emma Watson, Rosie O'Donnell, Nicole Kidman, Hillary Clinton,Barack and Michelle Obama and several others.