Brett Ratner Resigns as Oscar Show Producer

Brett Ratner will no longer be producing the 2012 Academy Awards.

“I called [the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president] Tom Sherak this morning and resigned as a producer of the 84th Academy Awards telecast. Being asked to help put on the Oscar show was the proudest moment of my career. But as painful as this may be for me, it would be worse if my association with the show were to be a distraction from the Academy and the high ideals it represents,” the 42-year-old director said in a statement (via THR, which first reported the news).

The announcement comes just a few days after Brett used a gay slur during a screening and later apologized for saying false comments about having sex with actress Olivia Munn.

Eddie Murphy, who worked with Brett on the new film, Tower Heist, is set to host the Oscars.