Film director Roman Polanski dismissed the #MeToo movement as "mass hysteria" and "hypocrisy" in a Polish interview carried out before he was expelled from the Oscars academy.&nbsp

The 84-year-old Oscar-winning director of "Rosemary's Baby" was last week expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences along with actor Bill Cosby, in light of sexual assault cases against both men.

Asked what he thinks of the movie industry's recent reckoning with sexual harassment, Polanski told this week's edition of Newsweek Polska: "I think this is the kind of mass hysteria that occurs in society from time to time."

"Sometimes it's very dramatic, like the French Revolution or the St Bartholomew's Day massacre in France, or sometimes it's less bloody, like 1968 in Poland or McCarthyism in the US," he added.&nbsp

"Everyone is trying to back this movement, mainly out of fear... I think it's total hypocrisy."

Polanski, who is a dual Polish and French citizen and currently lives in France, is wanted in the US for the 1977 rape of Samantha Geimer.

He has for years sought to negotiate a deal in the case with US authorities.&nbsp

Geimer, who has said in the past that she has forgiven Polanski, dismissed the Academy's move to expel him as "an ugly and cruel action which serves only appearance."

Polanski himself called the decision last week "the height of hypocrisy", according to his lawyer Jan Olszewski.

Olszewski added that comparing Polanski to Bill Cosby, who was also expelled from the Academy for sexual assault, was "a total misunderstanding and harassment."

The expulsions came as Hollywood reels from the assault allegations against disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein, which prompted an international uproar and encouraged legions of women to share their own experience of sexual harassment or rape under the hashtag #MeToo. 
&nbsp

Film director Roman Polanski dismissed the #MeToo movement as 'mass hysteria' and 'hypocrisy' in a Polish interview carried out before he was expelled from the Oscars academy

Film director Roman Polanski dismissed the #MeToo movement as "mass hysteria" and "hypocrisy" in a Polish interview carried out before he was expelled from the Oscars academy. The 84-year-old Oscar-winning director of "Rosemary's Baby" was last week expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences along with actor Bill Cosby, in light of sexual assault cases against both men. Asked what he thinks of the movie industry's recent reckoning with sexual harassment, Polanski told this week's edition of Newsweek Polska: "I think this is the kind of mass hysteria that occurs in society from time to time." "Sometimes it's very dramatic, like the French Revolution or the St Bartholomew's Day massacre in France, or sometimes it's less bloody, like 1968 in Poland or McCarthyism in the US," he added. "Everyone is trying to back this movement, mainly out of fear... I think it's total hypocrisy." Polanski, who is a dual Polish and French citizen and currently lives in France, is wanted in the US for the 1977 rape of Samantha Geimer. He has for years sought to negotiate a deal in the case with US authorities. Geimer, who has said in the past that she has forgiven Polanski, dismissed the Academy's move to expel him as "an ugly and cruel action which serves only appearance." Polanski himself called the decision last week "the height of hypocrisy", according to his lawyer Jan Olszewski. Olszewski added that comparing Polanski to Bill Cosby, who was also expelled from the Academy for sexual assault, was "a total misunderstanding and harassment." The expulsions came as Hollywood reels from the assault allegations against disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein, which prompted an international uproar and encouraged legions of women to share their own experience of sexual harassment or rape under the hashtag #MeToo.

Polanski calls #MeToo movement 'mass hysteria'

Comedian Bill Cosby was convicted on Thursday of drugging and sexually assaulting a onetime friend in 2004, marking the first such conviction of a celebrity since the #MeToo movement that has brought down rich and powerful men for their treatment of women. 
 
Cosby, 80, best known as the lovable father from the 1980s TV hit "The Cosby Show," faces up to 10 years in prison for each of three counts of aggravated indecent assault against Andrea Constand, 45, following a three-week trial at the Montgomery County courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania. 
 
After maintaining decorum throughout the trial, Cosby exploded following the verdict when prosecutors asked the judge to take him into custody, saying he was a flight risk in part because he owned a plane. 
 
"He doesn`t have a plane, you asshole!" Cosby responded in a booming voice as he leapt to feet. 
 
District Attorney Kevin Steele later remarked that with the outburst, "You got to see who he really was." 
 
As the verdict was read, Cosby looked down with a sad expression. Lili Bernard, one of his many accusers, began sobbing. Constand sat stone-faced. 
 
Judge Steven O`Neill ruled Cosby could remain out of jail on $1 million bail pending sentencing at a later date, as long as he surrendered his passport and remained at home. 
Cosby then left the courthouse with his lawyers and publicist. 
 
"The fight will go on," defence lawyer Thomas Mesereau told reporters, adding he would appeal the conviction. 
 
Sentencing was expected within 60 to 90 days after Cosby submits to a "sexually violent predator assessment." 
 
Although he could get up to 10 years for each count, state sentencing guidelines suggest a term of less than 10 years. 
 
The conviction marks the downfall of a man once celebrated as "America`s Dad" but whose reputation was ruined after some 50 women accused him of similar offences going back decades. 
Cosby had been a transcendent figure in show business, coming up as a black comedian during the civil rights movement of the 1960s and winning over white audiences with a clean routine.&nbsp 
 
He went on to several successful television series when African-Americans were largely absent from TV. In "The Cosby Show" from 1984 to 1992, he played the wise and witty Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable, the father of an affluent black family. 
 
All the while, his accusers say, he had been drugging and molesting women.&nbsp 
 
Only one of those cases was recent enough to be eligible for prosecution, that of Constand, a former administrator for the women`s basketball team at Temple University, Cosby`s alma mater. She had no comment after the verdict. 
 
"The most important person in our team was Andrea Constand," Steele, the district attorney, told reporters. "She was the first courageous person who stood up in public and went to authorities and said, `Bill Cosby drugged and raped me.`" 
 
Attorney Gloria Allred, who represents 33 of the Cosby accusers, rejoiced that Cosby was found "guilty, guilty, guilty." 
 
"We are so happy that finally we can say, women are believed, and not only on #MeToo, but in a court of law," Allred told reporters. 
 
Other Cosby accusers celebrated the verdict with hugs, cries, and applause. 
 
"I feel like my faith in humanity is restored," Bernard said. 
 
The seven-man, five-woman jury reached a unanimous verdict after deliberating for 14 hours over two days. 
 
Less than a year ago, a different jury was deadlocked after six days of deliberations on the same charges, prompting the judge to declare a mistrial.&nbsp 
 
Soon after the first trial, a series of women levelled sexual assault and harassment accusations against men in media, entertainment and politics, giving rise to the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements that encouraged women go public with personal stories of abuse, in some cases after years of silence. 
 
Like many of Cosby`s other accusers, Constand said she was drugged and violated while unable to defend herself. 
 
Cosby has said any sexual encounters were consensual, and his lawyers portrayed the accusers as fabricating stories in search of wealth and fame. 
 
"Mob rule is not due process," defence lawyer Kathleen Bliss said, referring to the #MeToo movement.&nbsp 
 
U.S. President Donald Trump has been accused by several women of sexual misconduct, including after the release during the 2016 presidential campaign of a video in which he had spoken in vulgar terms about trying to have sex with women. He later called it "locker room banter" and his campaign issued an apology to anyone who was offended. 
 
Trump, whose inauguration and first anniversary as president were met with nationwide women`s protests, denies accusations of sexual misconduct and accuses rival Democrats and the media of a smear campaign. He faces a defamation lawsuit from Summer Zervos, a contestant on his former reality show who accuses him of sexually harassing her. Trump`s lawyer has said her accusations are false and politically motivated. 
 
Constand testified she went to Cosby`s house to discuss a potential career change when he gave her three blue pills he said would relax her. 
 
She said the pills made her feel woozy, and when she was jolted awake Cosby was digitally penetrating her vagina, touching her breasts and masturbating himself with her hand. 
The prosecution case was bolstered by the five additional accusers who were allowed to testify, each saying they, too, were drugged and violated. In the first trial, O`Neill allowed only one accuser besides Constand to take the witness stand.

Comedian Bill Cosby was convicted on Thursday of drugging and sexually assaulting a onetime friend in 2004

Comedian Bill Cosby was convicted on Thursday of drugging and sexually assaulting a onetime friend in 2004, marking the first such conviction of a celebrity since the #MeToo movement that has brought down rich and powerful men for their treatment of women. Cosby, 80, best known as the lovable father from the 1980s TV hit "The Cosby Show," faces up to 10 years in prison for each of three counts of aggravated indecent assault against Andrea Constand, 45, following a three-week trial at the Montgomery County courthouse in Norristown, Pennsylvania. After maintaining decorum throughout the trial, Cosby exploded following the verdict when prosecutors asked the judge to take him into custody, saying he was a flight risk in part because he owned a plane. "He doesn`t have a plane, you asshole!" Cosby responded in a booming voice as he leapt to feet. District Attorney Kevin Steele later remarked that with the outburst, "You got to see who he really was." As the verdict was read, Cosby looked down with a sad expression. Lili Bernard, one of his many accusers, began sobbing. Constand sat stone-faced. Judge Steven O`Neill ruled Cosby could remain out of jail on $1 million bail pending sentencing at a later date, as long as he surrendered his passport and remained at home. Cosby then left the courthouse with his lawyers and publicist. "The fight will go on," defence lawyer Thomas Mesereau told reporters, adding he would appeal the conviction. Sentencing was expected within 60 to 90 days after Cosby submits to a "sexually violent predator assessment." Although he could get up to 10 years for each count, state sentencing guidelines suggest a term of less than 10 years. The conviction marks the downfall of a man once celebrated as "America`s Dad" but whose reputation was ruined after some 50 women accused him of similar offences going back decades. Cosby had been a transcendent figure in show business, coming up as a black comedian during the civil rights movement of the 1960s and winning over white audiences with a clean routine. He went on to several successful television series when African-Americans were largely absent from TV. In "The Cosby Show" from 1984 to 1992, he played the wise and witty Dr. Heathcliff Huxtable, the father of an affluent black family. All the while, his accusers say, he had been drugging and molesting women. Only one of those cases was recent enough to be eligible for prosecution, that of Constand, a former administrator for the women`s basketball team at Temple University, Cosby`s alma mater. She had no comment after the verdict. "The most important person in our team was Andrea Constand," Steele, the district attorney, told reporters. "She was the first courageous person who stood up in public and went to authorities and said, `Bill Cosby drugged and raped me.`" Attorney Gloria Allred, who represents 33 of the Cosby accusers, rejoiced that Cosby was found "guilty, guilty, guilty." "We are so happy that finally we can say, women are believed, and not only on #MeToo, but in a court of law," Allred told reporters. Other Cosby accusers celebrated the verdict with hugs, cries, and applause. "I feel like my faith in humanity is restored," Bernard said. The seven-man, five-woman jury reached a unanimous verdict after deliberating for 14 hours over two days. Less than a year ago, a different jury was deadlocked after six days of deliberations on the same charges, prompting the judge to declare a mistrial. Soon after the first trial, a series of women levelled sexual assault and harassment accusations against men in media, entertainment and politics, giving rise to the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements that encouraged women go public with personal stories of abuse, in some cases after years of silence. Like many of Cosby`s other accusers, Constand said she was drugged and violated while unable to defend herself. Cosby has said any sexual encounters were consensual, and his lawyers portrayed the accusers as fabricating stories in search of wealth and fame. "Mob rule is not due process," defence lawyer Kathleen Bliss said, referring to the #MeToo movement. U.S. President Donald Trump has been accused by several women of sexual misconduct, including after the release during the 2016 presidential campaign of a video in which he had spoken in vulgar terms about trying to have sex with women. He later called it "locker room banter" and his campaign issued an apology to anyone who was offended. Trump, whose inauguration and first anniversary as president were met with nationwide women`s protests, denies accusations of sexual misconduct and accuses rival Democrats and the media of a smear campaign. He faces a defamation lawsuit from Summer Zervos, a contestant on his former reality show who accuses him of sexually harassing her. Trump`s lawyer has said her accusations are false and politically motivated. Constand testified she went to Cosby`s house to discuss a potential career change when he gave her three blue pills he said would relax her. She said the pills made her feel woozy, and when she was jolted awake Cosby was digitally penetrating her vagina, touching her breasts and masturbating himself with her hand. The prosecution case was bolstered by the five additional accusers who were allowed to testify, each saying they, too, were drugged and violated. In the first trial, O`Neill allowed only one accuser besides Constand to take the witness stand.

Bill Cosby, once beloved 'America's Dad,' convicted of sexual assault

A sexual assault probe that cleared a senior United Nations official of wrongdoing has raised questions over whether the world body is capable of credibly investigating its top leaders.&nbsp;

The allegations against the deputy executive director of UNAIDS, Luiz Loures, resemble other cases that have emerged amid the #MeToo movement, where a man is accused of misconduct with a junior female colleague.&nbsp;

An internal UN investigation, seen by AFP, concluded there was no evidence to support claims that Loures, a Brazilian national, sexually assaulted or sexually harassed his accuser, whose identity is not public.&nbsp;

But activists and a legal expert said the probe was mishandled. &nbsp;

&quot;The UN is completely ill-equiped to investigate this kind of stuff. They shouldn&#39;t be in the business of investigating sexual assault&quot;, said Ed Flaherty, a lawyer who has represented international civil servants for more than two decades.&nbsp;

&quot;The UN is not a sovereign authority endowed with the rights to investigate criminal action&quot;, he added. &nbsp;

&quot;When there is a claim of criminal action the UN should involve the domestic authorities&quot;.&nbsp;

A UNAIDS spokesman said Wednesday that Loures did not want to comment on the case.&nbsp;

In two recent press releases, UNAIDS has underscored its &quot;zero tolerance&quot; for sexual harassment and voiced confidence its internal investigative processes.&nbsp;

Harassment? 
The case is recounted in a September 2017 report by the Office of Internal Oversight Services (IOS) at the World Health Organization, which has administrative links to UNAIDS.&nbsp;

In November 2016, a female employee made a complaint to UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidibe, alleging that Loures began sexually harassing her in 2011 and assaulted her in May 2015.&nbsp;

The alleged harassment included comments on her appearance and touching, she told investigators.

Loures told IOS that he often engaged in physical contact while greeting colleagues -- male and female -- and admitted to occasionally kissing his accuser and holding her hand.&nbsp;

IOS ruled that Loures&#39;s behaviour &quot;may be viewed as inappropriate, especially given his senior position&quot;, but determined there was &quot;insufficient evidence&quot; to support claims of sexual harassment.&nbsp;

The &#39;assault&#39;? 
The alleged assault occurred at a Bangkok hotel, where UNAIDS was hosting a reception ahead of a key meeting.

The claimant said Loures pressured her to have a private drink within the hotel, but away from the reception.&nbsp;

Loures denied that he pressured her, but confirmed the private conversation to IOS. &nbsp;

The accuser said the conversation began with work-related topics and then became more personal, but that nothing exceptional was discussed.&nbsp;

She claimed that while in the elevator afterwards, Loures forced himself on her, kissing her and grabbing her breasts.&nbsp;

She further alleged that when the elevator stopped at his floor, he forcefully tried to pull her out, in what appeared to be an attempt to bring her to his room for sex.&nbsp;

Loures denied the assault but claimed that over drinks his accuser divulged details of her sexual tastes.&nbsp;

Asked why a junior female employee would disclose such intimate personal details to a male supervisor, investigators said Loures was unable to fully answer.&nbsp;

Immediately after the alleged assault, the accuser called her mother and a friend to tell them what had happened.&nbsp;

Three colleagues who saw her at the hotel after the alleged attack described her as &quot;distressed, crying and very upset&quot;, according to the IOS.&nbsp;

The claimant also contacted her supervisor after the alleged incident. The supervisor also said the claimant was &quot;upset, crying and distressed&quot;, the IOS reported.&nbsp;

Burden of proof? 
The IOS concluded that there was &quot;no evidence&quot; to back up claims that Loures committed sexual assault.&nbsp;

For Paula Donovan, an activist with the Code Blue Campaign that has worked to expose sexual abuse within the UN, the Loures case marks another example of the UN&#39;s inability to investigate its senior officials.&nbsp;

She also said that IOS had &quot;an antiquated approach&quot; to sexual assault probes, with a burden of proof standard that was &quot;decades behind (many) countries&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;It doesn&#39;t matter to the UN, to UNAIDS, if the claimant called her mother, a close friend and her supervisor immediately following the assault... This is discounted as &#39;he said she said&#39;&quot;, Donovan told AFP.&nbsp;

Donovan and Flaherty agreed that a serious investigation would have involved a closer examination of Loures, to see if there was a pattern of inappropriate behaviour, especially given his unsubstantiated claim that he had a graphic sexual conversation with a female colleague.&nbsp;

&quot;IOS takes into account strong circumstantial evidence in making its recommendations,&quot; UNAIDS said in a statement. &nbsp;

&quot;The IOS... has independence to pursue the line of investigation they choose,&quot; it added, while declining to comment on the details of the Loures case. &nbsp;

The IOS findings also criticised UNAIDS chief Sidibe for trying to broker a quiet deal between Loures and the accuser even as an official investigation was under way.&nbsp;

Flaherty said the probe was consistent with a pattern he has observed in numerous cases involving the UN.&nbsp;

&quot;The system protects the senior officials in the organisation and God help the people below it&quot;, he said.&nbsp;

The allegations against the deputy executive director of UNAIDS, Luiz Loures, resemble other cases that have emerged amid the #MeToo movement, where a man is accused of misconduct with a junior female colleague

A sexual assault probe that cleared a senior United Nations official of wrongdoing has raised questions over whether the world body is capable of credibly investigating its top leaders. The allegations against the deputy executive director of UNAIDS, Luiz Loures, resemble other cases that have emerged amid the #MeToo movement, where a man is accused of misconduct with a junior female colleague. An internal UN investigation, seen by AFP, concluded there was no evidence to support claims that Loures, a Brazilian national, sexually assaulted or sexually harassed his accuser, whose identity is not public. But activists and a legal expert said the probe was mishandled. "The UN is completely ill-equiped to investigate this kind of stuff. They shouldn't be in the business of investigating sexual assault", said Ed Flaherty, a lawyer who has represented international civil servants for more than two decades. "The UN is not a sovereign authority endowed with the rights to investigate criminal action", he added. "When there is a claim of criminal action the UN should involve the domestic authorities". A UNAIDS spokesman said Wednesday that Loures did not want to comment on the case. In two recent press releases, UNAIDS has underscored its "zero tolerance" for sexual harassment and voiced confidence its internal investigative processes. Harassment? The case is recounted in a September 2017 report by the Office of Internal Oversight Services (IOS) at the World Health Organization, which has administrative links to UNAIDS. In November 2016, a female employee made a complaint to UNAIDS executive director Michel Sidibe, alleging that Loures began sexually harassing her in 2011 and assaulted her in May 2015. The alleged harassment included comments on her appearance and touching, she told investigators. Loures told IOS that he often engaged in physical contact while greeting colleagues -- male and female -- and admitted to occasionally kissing his accuser and holding her hand. IOS ruled that Loures's behaviour "may be viewed as inappropriate, especially given his senior position", but determined there was "insufficient evidence" to support claims of sexual harassment. The 'assault'? The alleged assault occurred at a Bangkok hotel, where UNAIDS was hosting a reception ahead of a key meeting. The claimant said Loures pressured her to have a private drink within the hotel, but away from the reception. Loures denied that he pressured her, but confirmed the private conversation to IOS. The accuser said the conversation began with work-related topics and then became more personal, but that nothing exceptional was discussed. She claimed that while in the elevator afterwards, Loures forced himself on her, kissing her and grabbing her breasts. She further alleged that when the elevator stopped at his floor, he forcefully tried to pull her out, in what appeared to be an attempt to bring her to his room for sex. Loures denied the assault but claimed that over drinks his accuser divulged details of her sexual tastes. Asked why a junior female employee would disclose such intimate personal details to a male supervisor, investigators said Loures was unable to fully answer. Immediately after the alleged assault, the accuser called her mother and a friend to tell them what had happened. Three colleagues who saw her at the hotel after the alleged attack described her as "distressed, crying and very upset", according to the IOS. The claimant also contacted her supervisor after the alleged incident. The supervisor also said the claimant was "upset, crying and distressed", the IOS reported. Burden of proof? The IOS concluded that there was "no evidence" to back up claims that Loures committed sexual assault. For Paula Donovan, an activist with the Code Blue Campaign that has worked to expose sexual abuse within the UN, the Loures case marks another example of the UN's inability to investigate its senior officials. She also said that IOS had "an antiquated approach" to sexual assault probes, with a burden of proof standard that was "decades behind (many) countries". "It doesn't matter to the UN, to UNAIDS, if the claimant called her mother, a close friend and her supervisor immediately following the assault... This is discounted as 'he said she said'", Donovan told AFP. Donovan and Flaherty agreed that a serious investigation would have involved a closer examination of Loures, to see if there was a pattern of inappropriate behaviour, especially given his unsubstantiated claim that he had a graphic sexual conversation with a female colleague. "IOS takes into account strong circumstantial evidence in making its recommendations," UNAIDS said in a statement. "The IOS... has independence to pursue the line of investigation they choose," it added, while declining to comment on the details of the Loures case. The IOS findings also criticised UNAIDS chief Sidibe for trying to broker a quiet deal between Loures and the accuser even as an official investigation was under way. Flaherty said the probe was consistent with a pattern he has observed in numerous cases involving the UN. "The system protects the senior officials in the organisation and God help the people below it", he said.

Questions mount over sex assault probe into top UN official

metoo-movement

Metoo Movement, News on Metoo Movement, stories on Metoo Movement, articles on Metoo Movement, Metoo Movement stories at Wion, Metoo Movement news, Metoo Movement latest news

metoo movement

Polanski calls #MeToo movement 'mass hysteria'

Bill Cosby, once beloved 'America's Dad,' convicted of sexual assault

Questions mount over sex assault probe into top UN official