The board of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has voted overwhelmingly to expel Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein after the powerful media mogul was accused of sexual abuse and physical assault during the course of his career. The 54-member Board of Governors of the Academy, the organisation behind the Oscars, made the decision at an emergency session late Saturday after discussing the allegations against Weinstein, and voted well in excess of the required two-thirds majority to immediately expel him from the Academy, reports The Washington Post.

This file photo taken on March 2, 2014 shows producer Harvey Weinstein arriving on the red carpet for the 86th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California. Pic/AFP