Why in the World Is Brett Ratner Still Producing the Oscars?

Will Leitch
·Editor

Last night, Tom Sherak, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, released a statement in response to the big Brett Ratner controversy of yesterday. In case you missed it, Laughing Boy Ratner said during a "Tower Heist" question-and-answer session that "rehearsing was for f-gs." This is the type of statement that in the ultra-macho NBA will get you fined and/or suspended; one shudders to think of the ramifications in the world of Hollywood, which, after all, is populated with, you know, actors. But Sherak is standing by his man.

Here's the finger-wagging "scold:"

"His remarks were inappropriate. He said it best in his apology, that his comments were dumb and insensitive. When you think of our community, it went against all the beliefs of the creative community we represent. He knew it was wrong and he issued that response as quickly as any human being ever has. The bottom line is, this won't and can't happen again. It will not happen again. He apologized and we will move forward. How do I know this? I've known this man for a very long time. He has many friends who are members of the gay and lesbian community. The apology he gave I truly believe comes from his heart. If I didn't believe it, I would do something about it. This is about integrity and honoring the Academy Awards, but we all make mistakes and I believe he didn't mean it."

We are trying to think of a more inappropriate thing you could do in Hollywood than insulting the gay community. Maybe insulting little dogs? Praising traffic? Having your picture taken with Frank McCourt? Disparaging Umami Burger?

Ratner is surely just being kept around because of his connection with Eddie Murphy, whom Ratner already brought in as host and whom the Academy can't exactly back away from now. But that seems manageable to us: If Eddie Murphy says, "forget it, I'm not hosting the Oscars anymore out of solidarity with the guy who just tosses 'f-g' around at public screenings," hey, more power to him: Good luck with that, Eddie.

Let's take a look at Brett Ratner, at this point in the year 2011. He's boorish, offensive and loutish. He lacks the basic competence as a director for his movies to even make sense. And now they're not even financial successes, which is the one thing he had going for him, for better or worse. What is this guy offering the planet at this point? Why's he here again?

Academy Backs Oscarcast Producer Brett Ratner, But There Is No Room For Screwups [Deadline]