Brett Ratner's use of a gay slur has not only cost him fans and support from the LGBT community, now he will no longer be producing the 84th Annual Academy Awards.
The announcement comes tonight via a press release from GLAAD, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
The organization reports that Ratner issued an apology, which follows below, and today resigned as producer of the Oscars to be held next February.
The move comes after numerous dicussions between the director and GLAAD, and was due in part to the outrage of community members who spoke out after Ratner commented "rehearsing is for fags" during a recent Q&A session held after a screening of his new film "Tower Heist."
From GLAAD's press release:
"GLAAD and Ratner are working to convene public discussions featuring leaders in the entertainment industry about promoting fair and accurate inclusions of LGBT people and stories. The discussions will address anti-LGBT jokes and slurs in films and on television today as well as their trickle-down effect into popular culture. The first event will take place in coming weeks with additional discussions to take place over the next three years. Additional details to follow.
'When we sat down with Brett today, he seemed very sincere in his desire to use this experience as a way to begin speaking out against anti-gay language in popular culture,' said Herndon Graddick, Senior Director of Programs at GLAAD. 'We believe this resignation is just the first step and will be announcing a series of concrete actions in coming days and weeks with Brett.'"
Ratner's apology letter:
An Open Letter to the Entertainment Industry from Brett RatnerDear Colleagues,
Over the last few days, Iâve 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. To them, and to everyone Iâve hurt and offended, Iâd like to apologize publicly and unreservedly.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. And they pale in comparison to what any gay, lesbian, or transgender individual must deal with as they confront the many inequalities that continue to plague our world.
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 doesnât 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 Iâve so foolishly perpetuated.
As a first step, I called Tom Sherak this morning and resigned as a producer of the 84th Academy Awards telecast. Being asked to help put on the Oscar show was the proudest moment of my career. But as painful as this may be for me, it would be worse if my association with the show were to be a distraction from the Academy and the high ideals it represents.
I am grateful to GLAAD for engaging me in a dialogue about what we can do together to increase awareness of the important and troubling issues this episode has raised and I look forward to working with them. I am incredibly lucky to have a career in this business that I love with all of my heart and to be able to work alongside so many of my heroes. I deeply regret my actions and I am determined to learn from this experience.
Sincerely,
Brett Ratner
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