Filmmaker Brett Ratner has resigned as the producer of next year’s Oscar Awards following his anti-gay slur during a public interview, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences said on Wednesday. Ratner submitted his resignation to Academy president Tom Sherak, who supported the move, saying the comments were “unacceptable”.
“He did the right thing for the Academy and for himself,” Sherak said in a statement.
“Words have meaning, and they have consequences. Brett is a good person, but his comments were unacceptable. We all hope this will be an opportunity to raise awareness about the harm that is caused by reckless and insensitive remarks, regardless of the intent.”
Ratner, known for mov-ies like Rush Hour, Family Man and Tower Heist has issued an open letter, saying he would like to “apologise publicly and unreservedly” for “the hurtful and stupid things I said.”
The director said he wanted to take “real action” to stamp out the damage caused by his remarks.