John Bailey, American cinematographer and president of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science is under investigation for allegations of sexual harassment.
The investigation is being tasked by casting director and producer, David Rubin who leads the Academy subcommittee reviewing the allegations.
Variety first reported the investigation began after three separate allegations of harassment against the 75-year-old were made on Wednesday.
On Friday, the Academy released an official statement presumably in response to the outlets but the statement neither directly named Bailey or confirmed the allegations against him.
“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, and after completing reviews, reports to the Board of Governors. We will not comment further on such matters until the full review is completed.”
The allegations against Bailey come less than two weeks after the 90th Academy Awards show, the Hollywood event purposefully marked and dominated by the powerful #MeToo and Time’s Up movements. These campaigns created to end sexual harassment and sexual assault in the workplace have forced dozens of influential and high-powered men in and out of Hollywood to face their sexual misconduct.
Bailey is the 34th Academy president, elected on August 8 2017 and is widely known for his work like Groundhog Day, American Gigolo, Ordinary People and How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
Bailey is the latest Hollywood figure in power under investigation for sexual misconduct allegations after The New York Times and The New Yorker first revealed the alleged sexual harrasment and sexual assault of more than 30 women by disgraced producer, Harvey Weinstein.
Bailey has yet to reply to the allegations.
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