U. of Southern California Rejects $5-Million Pledge From Harvey Weinstein

The allegations of sexual harassment and assault against the movie magnate Harvey Weinstein were enough to make the University of Southern California on Tuesday reject his pledge of $5 million for a scholarship program for female directors, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“The USC School of Cinematic Arts will not proceed with Mr. Weinstein’s pledge to fund a $5M endowment for women filmmakers,” the university said in a statement to the Reporter.

The decision followed explosive revelations in articles by The New York Times, The New Yorker, and other publications, as well as a growing number of actresses who have accused Mr. Weinstein of sexual misconduct dating to the 1990s.

The decision also followed a petition on Change.org that urged the university to “refuse Harvey Weinstein’s blood money in exchange for its soul.” The petition was started by a USC student, Tiana Lowe, who also wrote: “I’m done with respectable institutions readmitting monsters into honorable life.” More than 350 people had signed the petition by Tuesday night.