Update:** **In a not-entirely-unexpected move, Tower Heist star Eddie Murphy has decided to stand down as Oscar host following Ratner's resignation. "I appreciate how Eddie feels about losing his creative partner, Brett Ratner, and we all wish him well,” said Academy president Tom Sherak in a statement.
Well that didn’t last very long… Just a couple of months after he scored the job of co-producing next year’s Academy Awards ceremony alongside veteran show runner Don Misher, Brett Ratner has resigned in the wake of various offensive comments he’s made across the last couple of weeks.
While hitting the promotional trailer for his latest film, Tower Heist, Ratner has displayed a remarkable taste for his own foot, as he sounded off about everything from his sexual history, his interactions with the likes of Lindsay Lohan and, in the blunder that most likely cost him the job, he joked about the process of rehearsal: “Rehearsal? What’s that? Rehearsal’s for fags. Rehearsal. Not much.”
There was understandable outrage at his outburst and now, despite an apology for his ill-judged comments, he’s stepping down from his Oscar duties. He also offered a lengthy statement on the matter, the first chunk of which is below.
“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.” If you want to read the rest, head to Deadline.