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SHOCKER! Brett Ratner Out As Oscar Producer
Academy’s Statement On Brett Ratner’s Resignation
Brett Ratner has issued a letter to the entertainment industry explaining why he has resigned as producer of the Academy Awards following a litany of spectacularly dumb and insensitive statements made while promoting his new film Tower Heist. I’m told that despite a growing groundswell of Academy members calling for Ratner’s head, the Academy likely would have grudgingly hung in there with Ratner as producer. He made it easy for them by bowing out. Here is his statement:
An Open Letter to the Entertainment Industry from Brett Ratner
Dear Colleagues,
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. To them, and to everyone I’ve hurt and offended, I’d 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 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.
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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Ridiculous that he has to resign
ridiculous only to someone that doesn’t get it when a 15 year old kid kills himself after being bullied and called that name and can’t take the hurt anymore. when people like ratner say that stuff it emboldens bullies.
Soooo dramatic. Like Ratner personally killed some kid by making a dumb comment. Nobody is responsible for another person’s actions. Ratner’s an ass, but there’s no law against being one as far as I know.
Actually, there is. American discrimination law recognizes the concept of the “hostile workplace environment,” which means that yeah, if you’re asshole and you make derogatory remarks about your fellow workers or do other things that make them feel uncomfortable, you likely will get fired, because your employer is afraid of being sued for tolerating your crap.
One noted exception, however, is in writers’ rooms where it was found legally okay to be sexist, racist, etc. because writers needed to be able to brainstorm without the constraints of decency. I frankly think that’s complete horseshit, but to each their own.
Funny…I’ve met a lot of asses in this industry in my experience and none of them ever lost their jobs for spouting some truly vile and heinous comments. Ratner’s obnoxious, boorish and scumbaggy. But if he was in with the right elements, I doubt we’d be seeing this much ado about nothing.
Did you even read what Ratner said in his resignation letter? Those words came from his mouth.
Ratner also emboldens unshaven fat slobs – for that alone he should have resigned long ago.
Very menchy of him. I didn’t think he had it in him.
Howard Stern has a new pre-approved side kick.
Ridiculous that he didn’t resign from directing after each one of his painfully awful cinematic efforts.
Hustler got served!
You’re only allowed to have/express an opinion if it’s been officially sanctioned these days and if you say anything that anyone finds the least bit offensive (as long as you’re not one of the “in” club – they can say whatever they want, and they do!) watch out!. That said, I don’t know what Ratner said in these cases that got him in trouble – perhaps he really did go to far. But for all those who CHOOSE to let words bother them, a fag is just a cigarette – ask any Brit – they’ll tell ya!
The minute he said whatever he said, he probably knew it was beyond the pale and started kicking himself. So he regrets it, he’s apologized — let’s move on. He’s probably as grateful for “engaging in a dialogue… to increase awareness” as he’s looking forward to root canal. “Engaging in dialogue” probably means GLAAD scolds him for an hour or so, he hangs his head, then leaves their offices muttering “There’s an hour of my life I’ll never get back…stupid fags…”
As a gay man, I think everyone needs to take a deep breath and stop being offended every five minutes. No one ever told me I get to go through life not being offended. Too much legislation in this country has been based on emotion and “feelings” for too long — and it’s making all of us (especially new generations of young people) softer, less able to handle our own lives and more reliant on Nanny Government to keep us from harm.
Seems like GLAAD and PETA and their ilk are the new breed of bullies: socially sanctioned, acceptable and “good”. But bullies nevertheless.
You are ignorant and appear unable to understand the big picture. Ratner did the right thing.
Still doesn’t make up for X3. Where’s the apology letter for that?!
+1
I’ve been boycotting Ratner since I was personally offended that he thought X3 was okay to show people.
I can watch the Oscars now. Good.
And he should also be apologizing to Olivia Munn for tarnishing her reputation by lying that he “banged her a few times.”
Yeah, he should have said “SEVERAL TIMES” – filthy lying no good SOB!
First–that photo of him at the basketball game is genius.
Second–Brett is no bigot. Everything to him is okay. He is a Libertine and thinks he can just do whatever he wants all the time. He never grew up. As a gay man I never have felt anything but amusement from him. There are sick people in this business sicker than a guy who is a womanizer.
No one seems to be mentioning this about Ratner.
He’s not married so he can be a player if he wants.
He’s never drank, touched a drug or smoked a cigarette or drank coffee in his entire life.
He is just a sucker for women and maybe should go to rehab for that. Sex rehab.
He also needs to learn to keep his mouth shut.
Or all of his other movies…
Hahahahahahahaha!
well said Brett.
Well written and heartfelt. It’s probably better that he resigned, seems like a playboy but a good guy also.
This is so obviously written by a PR person rather than Ratner himself, it’s painful. Still, at least he’s had the sense not to drag this out, and to give the okay to a statement that makes it clear why what he said was wrong, and why words do matter.
Yes, it’s a great letter and I personally believe he meant every word. Nonetheless, his series of public displays of idiocy (not to mention homophobia and sexism) don’t gibe with the image the Academy thinks it needs to project. I am still baffled how he could have been so blimey stupid.
Good job, Viewpoint, well written apology for your client.
I wonder how many hours of media training Ratner has been though in the last 5 years.. Either he’s an idiot, or Viewpoint (if they’re currently on retainer) just should just shut themselves down..
LOL My thoughts exactly. Jennifer Allen has a nice way with words.
OK, I’ll give it to him. Far and away the first classy, sophisticated and intelligent piece of writing with which he’s been associated.
He made the right decision and did it the right way. Now, let’s move on.
You actually think HE wrote that??
if his movie would have been hit, he still been in. You can be bigot or child molester or even marry your step daughter but just don’t be failure.
Ask Mel Gibson about that….
so true – you can get away with anything in this town as long as the box office is good. if mel said what he said in the early-mid 90′s he would have been forgiven instantly.
Brett is a big man for falling on his sword on this issue.
I’m certain the remarks were not meant to be hurtful, but the truth is… words do hurt and may become fodder for the deranged to get behind.
This will end up helping to enrich us and those around us to be more aware of our public selves.
Email me what you`re inhaling Vince
How much you wanna bet Adam Shankman will be called in as the token gay producer?
or say anything anti-semitic
If Eddie Murphy is out as host, I say the Awards should be co-hosted by Neal Patrick Harris and Olivia Munn. That’d be awesome.
I agree – I don’t think he should have to resign. It’s pretty clear to me, though I’m not gay, that he wasn’t saying the remark in a really derogatory way. I think we’re all a little too sensi these days about PC issues and just need to chill a little.
It’s less about the one utterance if ‘fag,’ and more about his ongoing disgusting frat boy media appearances, where he’s attacking Olivia munn, talking about his little dck, and being a really sexist sleazy pig. What don’t you get? Wake up!
You can’t expect much from a guy who can’t get his head out of his crotch.
Technically Olivia Munn put the stuff about his small dick in her book. It’s not like he was just sitting there and wanted to trash talk her. I’m not saying he isn’t a loud mouth frat boy, but that is no reason to leave a job. It’s his personality. Why does he have to hide who he is? I also feel that the use of the three letter f word can have two meanings. It’s like when I call someone a p*ssy. I don’t see people going aroudn beating up every women’s p*ssy they see because I’ve used the word in that context. The world has become over sensitive. I’m not condoning real hate, I’m just saying this phrase in the context he used it wasn’t hate.
Really? Are you kidding me with that analogy?? It makes no sense.
Olivia Munn, if what I hear is accurate, never mentioned Ratner by name. That the director in question was him was CONFIRMED BY HIM ON NATIONAL TV, which makes him really, really stupid.
While I think that his “fag” comment was not nearly as serious as some make it out to be, I am not sure that because that’s supposedly how he is makes up for him being a moron.
Is it so wrong to expect just a little class from people in the public eye? I am not saying that they have to be saints, but this is a bit sad.
It’s pretty clear to me, though I’m not gay, that he wasn’t saying the remark in a really derogatory way. I think we’re all a little too sensi these days about PC issues and just need to chill a little.
I’m not gay either, but it’s pretty clear to me that just the *use* of the word is offensive. It doesn’t matter if he was intending it to be offensive to gay people, he was using a word that is derogatory to gay people in a context that supported that sense and was dismissive.
And straight people can tell gay people to “chill” when the latter are no longer being discriminated against, and gay teens aren’t killing themselves because of bullying. It’s not up to people not part of a minority to tell people who are part of that minority what to be offended about.
I’m old, fat, and heard of hearing. Do I get to pick which words you are allowed to say?
AND I have limited spelling skills!
At least this guy issued an actual apology. No, “IF I offended anyone” statement but an honest recognition of what he said and that it did indeed offend. I’m no Ratner fan, he’s a sexist pig in my book, but this apology at least is straightforward and takes responsibility for what was said.
Yeah his comments were foolish, and times have changed- you CAN’T hide from accidental or irresponsible gafaws like you could 10 years ago. Everything is recorded and shared publicly in a nano second.
I still liked his apology.
Well said, Brett. As someone who’s worked with him and will continue to do so, I know he’s a good person with good heart. He’ll do whatever it takes to make this right.
Herman Cain could take a page from Bret Ratner.
The PR firm that crafted that statement gets an A+. One of the best mea culpas I’ve ever seen. Mel Gibson, etc…could have done serious damage control to their careers with wordsmiths like that.
Agreed. It really gives the impression the Brett Ratner is truly sorry. You can’t fake honesty like that; you have to pay good money for it.
Haha agreed. This clearly wasn’t written by Ratner at all. No way, no how.
“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.”
Of course not. You caused your own mess, LGBT people are just trying to lives their lives.
Oh, pleez, you seriously think HE wrote that? He had a team write it. He’s so scummy and disgusting – a bigot with very tiny feet.
Good riddance. I hope whoever wrote that got paid nicely.
His movies are awful too.
At least now in his continued assault on every hostess in hollywood, he can’t say “I’m producing the oscars” and therefore can’t promise them backstage passes if they come home with him.
But Brett is not a mean guy and not an asshole. Just loves to be “the star” and deep down, just loves the fact that he has the position to have hot women sleep with him. That’s his true passion.
Ratner’s “true passion” is Ratner. Period.
newsflash: that is every straight guy’s passion.
Kim Kardashian should hire Brett’s PR firm ASAP.
I generally can’t stand the guy, or his movies, but he gets some respect with this. He fucked up. He apologized unreservedly. He took appropriate action. He owned it. What more can you ask of someone who has made a mistake?
You’d have to ask Mel Gibson!
So he quit because he called “fags” by what everybody else calls them? Okay. Will the president of MTV resign for airing ten years of offensive gay ‘Real World’ content to the religious community.
Sorry, I don’t call gay people ‘fags’. It’s meant to hurt them, put them down. My aunt is gay. So no, no “EVERYONE” calls people fags. Grow the f*ck up.
Huh. I didn’t realize MTV had magic powers and could broadcast things into other people’s homes and they can’t turn it off or anything. Maybe if it was an MTV star using a similarly hurtful word against Christians (hint: There isn’t one.) you’d have a point.
Really dude? It’s the 21st century and you’re still that ignorant?
I really hate Brett Ratner. But I hate these hyper sensitive politically correct non-sense special interst groups like GLAAD who have taken over our world way more.
GLAAD have “taken over the world”? LMAO! You’re thinking of the white men of priviledge who use all means within their power to maintain the status quo and their power, and who also do whatever they can to keep minorities “in their place.” Easy to get the two confused though, I can see that.
Olivia Munn called him a “fat pig” with a small penis and basically accused him of sexual harassment. He was only defending himself by saying “We dated and I banged her a few times.” I guess she forgot to mention that she’s a whore.
@Trippy: It surprises me how misinformed people like you are. Olivia Munn never named Brett Ratner. He later apologized for his rude personal attacks on her and admitted that to Howard Stern that his claim that he bedded her “isn’t true.” I guess you forgot to mention that you’re ignorant and stupid.