Will Smith was banned from attending the Oscars for ten years by Hollywood’s film academy on Friday, after the best actor winner slapped presenter Chris Rock on stage at the Academy Awards event on March 27.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ board of governors took the decision at a meeting on Friday, a week after Smith resigned from the organization.
“The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year,” academy President David Rubin and Chief Executive Dawn Hudson said in a statement.
“However, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behavior we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage.”
In a statement, Smith said, “I accept and respect the Academy’s decision.” The actor has issued statements apologizing to Rock, the Oscars producers, nominees and viewers.
Smith was barred from all other academy events and programs, in person or digitally, for ten years, in addition to the Oscars, the film industry’s most coveted prizes.
Smith stepped up to the stage after comedian Chris Rock made a joke about the actor’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, at the March 27 broadcast ceremony, then hit Rock across the face.
Smith offered a heartfelt statement on stage less than an hour later as he won the best actor award for his role as the father of tennis players Serena and Venus Williams in “King Richard.”
He was seen dancing at Vanity Fair’s annual post-Oscars party after the event.
Rock’s joke about Pinkett Smith was a reference to Demi Moore’s shorn head in the 1997 picture “G.I. Jane.” It’s unknown whether Rock is aware that she suffers from a hair-loss problem.
After Smith’s outburst, the academy was chastised for allowing him to remain in his seat at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and accept his prize on stage.
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