Will Smith was banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years following Chris Rock’s slapping incident
Will Smith was banned from attending Oscars for 10 years after the best actor award winner slapped comedian Chris Rock on the final stage last month.
The move was decided by the board of governors of the Academy of Film Arts and Sciences in a meeting held on Friday.
“The 94th Oscar event was held to celebrate the many individuals in our community in producing the best work over the past year.
“Yet the moment was marred by Smith’s dangerous and unacceptable actions as we saw it happen on stage,” Academy President David Rubin and Chief Executive Dawn Hudson said in a joint statement.
In a counter statement, Smith said he “accepts and respects the decisions made by the Academy”.
The ban means Smith will not present one of the major awards at next year’s Oscar awards ceremony, as is the tradition for best actor winners.
Last week, Smith resigned from the Academy and said he was ready to accept any punishment handed down by the Academy.
However, the Academy allowed Smith to remain receiving his best actor award for his performance in “King Richard.”
The academy also apologized for failing to handle the situation between Smith and Rock properly.
Earlier, the actor had issued several statements apologizing to Rock, Oscar producers, award nominees and spectators of the event.
Apart from the Oscars, Smith is also barred from attending events and other programs organized by the body physically or virtually.
But the body did not say if Smith was eligible to be nominated for any awards during that period.
Smith’s latest film “Emancipation” tells the story of a man who manages to free himself from being a slave is expected to be released this year.
source – Astro Awani
