Producer Brett Ratner has resigned as producer of the upcoming Oscars show after coming under fire for using an anti-gay slur in a comment he made over the weekend.
At a screening of his new film Tower Heist, Ratner was taking part in a Q & A session when he was asked about the schedule lead-up for Academy Awards telecast and told the audience “rehearsal is for f**s.”
The 42 year-old issued a public apology:
“Over the last few days, I’ve gotten a well-deserved earful from many of the people I admire most in this industry expressing their outrage and disappointment over the hurtful and stupid things I said in a number of recent media appearances,” Ratner’s letter to the Entertainment Industry said. “To them, and to everyone I’ve hurt and offended, I’d like to apologize publicly and unreservedly.”
He continued: “As difficult as the last few days have been for me, they cannot compare to the experience of any young man or woman who has been the target of offensive slurs or derogatory comments…. So many artists and craftspeople in our business are members of the LGBT community, and it pains me deeply that I may have hurt them. I should have known this all along, but at least I know it now: words do matter. Having love in your heart doesn’t count for much if what comes out of your mouth is ugly and bigoted. With this in mind, and to all those who understandably feel that apologies are not enough, please know that I will be taking real action over the coming weeks and months in an effort to do everything I can both professionally and personally to help stamp out the kind of thoughtless bigotry I’ve so foolishly perpetuated.”
Academy President Tom Sherark accepted his resignation saying Ratner “did the right thing,” but now the February 2012 program has lost another key talent as well.
Eddie Murphy – the star of Tower Heist – has decided that he will no longer host the show in the wake of the Ratner debacle.
“First and foremost I want to say that I completely understand and support each party’s decision with regard to a change of producers for this year’s Academy Awards ceremony,” Murphy’s statement began.
“I was truly looking forward to being a part of the show that our production team and writers were just starting to develop, but I’m sure that the new production team and host will do an equally great job.”
With Murphy and Ratner out, the Academy has to start at the beginning and replace both quickly.
