Will Smith banned from Oscars for 10 years over Chris Rock slap
Will Smith will not be allowed to attend any Academy events, including the Oscars, for 10 years after slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage at the ceremony.
The board of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organises the Oscars, announced the decision after meeting to discuss possible sanctions following the star’s outburst at the event.
Smith, 53, had already resigned his membership from the Academy, giving up his voting rights, and said before the disciplinary hearing that he would accept any consequences.
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president David Rubin and chief executive Dawn Hudson said in a statement: “The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year.
“However, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behaviour we saw Mr Smith exhibit on
stage.”
The board ruled that for 10 years from 8 April, Smith “shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards”.
It added: “This action we are taking today in response to Will Smith’s behavior is a step toward a larger goal of protecting the safety of our performers and guests, and restoring trust in the Academy.”
More on Chris Rock
-
Will Smith resigns from Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences over Chris Rock slap at Oscars
-
Chris Rock ‘saved the Oscars’ after slapgate, ceremony producer Will Packer says
-
Oscars: Police were ready to arrest Will Smith after he slapped Chris Rock, says ceremony producer
Related Topics:
- Chris Rock
- Jada Pinkett Smith
- Oscars
- Will Smith
In a statement, Smith said: “I accept and respect the Academy’s decision.”
The board had been set to meet on 18 April but brought the hearing forward to deal with the incident “in a timely fashion” following the actor’s resignation.
Sky News arts and entertainment correspondent Katie Spencer said the Academy “wanted to be seen to take a stand but they were fairly limited in what they could do”.
But she added: “That’s quite a bold statement – you’re banned from the Oscars for 10 years, especially if you’re a big Hollywood superstar. It’s hitting you where it hurts.”
During the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on 27 March, Smith walked on to the stage and smacked Rock, who had made a joke at the expense of the actor’s wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith, as he was about to present an award.
Smith returned to his seat and shouted twice: “Keep my wife’s name out of your f****** mouth.”
Rock’s joke had made a reference to the 1997 film GI Jane, in which actress Demi Moore shaved her head. It is still unclear whether the comedian was aware that Pinkett Smith has alopecia, an autoimmune condition that causes hair loss, when he made the remark.
Following the outburst, Rock recovered the situation and after a stunned silence the ceremony continued – with Smith going on to win the actor for best Oscar, for his performance playing the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams in King Richard.
Subscribe to the Backstage podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
In its statement on Friday the Academy said it wanted to “express our deep gratitude to Mr Rock for maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances”.
Smith, the star of The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air and Hollywood blockbusters such as I Am Legend, Independence Day and the Men In Black and Bad Boys films, apologised to the Academy and fellow nominees on stage and later attended the Vanity Fair after party with Pinkett Smith and his children, where he posed for photos with his statuette.
But as criticism grew the following day, he released a statement giving a public apology to Rock, saying he reacted “emotionally” to the joke but that “violence in all its forms is poisonous and destructive”.
He resigned from the Academy a week after the incident, saying: “My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable.”
