Los Angeles (US), November 11 (AP) Cinematographer John Bailey, who was the president of the US-based ‘Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ during the beginning of the ‘Me Too’ movement against sexual harassment, has passed away. He was 81 years old.
Bailey’s wife, Carol Littleton, reported his death in Los Angeles, according to a statement released by the film academy.
Bailey, who has worked on films ranging from ‘Ordinary People’ and ‘Groundhog Day’ to ‘How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days’, was the first cinematographer to preside over the Academy. He held this responsibility from 2017-2019.
At the time of his presidency, the film industry was struggling with declining Oscar ratings and other problems. Only two months had passed since he became the President when the media reported allegations of sexual harassment against famous film producer Harvey Weinstein.
Subsequently, Bailey himself was accused of attempting to touch a woman inappropriately on a film set a decade earlier. Bailey denied the allegation and the Academy’s investigation found that no further action was needed in March 2018. He was re-elected for a second term later that year.
AP Simmi Santosh
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