MUMBAI: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has accepted Brett Ratner‘s decision to step down as producer of the Oscar ceremony.

Said an emotional Ratner in a letter to his colleagues, "I called 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."

It is likely that Ratner would be replaced by Eddie Murphy who has been mooted to host the ceremony.

However, there is no word on who will take over to producing the awards ceremony that is just three and a half months away.