Oscars
© ReutersAn Oscar statue outside the Dolby Theater.
Former stars and convicted rapists Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski have been dumped from the prestigious body governing the Oscars. Controversy soon erupted, however, as Cosby is just-convicted but Polanski's case was 40 years ago.

The board of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences met on Tuesday to vote on the matter, according to a statement, and the decision was made that each star's membership be terminated.

"The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences board of governors met... and has voted to expel actor Bill Cosby and director Roman Polanski from its membership, in accordance with the organisation's standards of conduct," the organization's statement read.

"The board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy's values of respect for human dignity," it added.


However, the public seems not to have been satisfied with the decision, mocking the Oscars body for thinking too long, because, while Cosby was found guilty last week, Polanski's story drags back to 1977.

Comedy entertainer Bill Cosby was last week found guilty on three counts of aggravated indecent assault, relating to a 2004 incident in Philadelphia. The 80-year-old faces up to 30 years in prison.


Hollywood director Roman Polanski has been in exile from the US after a prosecution for sexual abuse committed against a 13-year-old girl in Los Angeles in 1977. Polanski fled to France in 1978 before he was sentenced and has not returned since.

Since his conviction, Polanski has been nominated for a number of awards and, in 2003, he won the Best Director Oscar for the film 'The Pianist'.