Will Smith Banned From The Oscars For 10 Years

Will Smith has been banned from attending Academy events for the next 10 years after slapping presenter Chris Rock during the 2022 Oscars ceremony.

The ruling followed a meeting of the 54 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences board of governors on Friday.

Announcing the decision in a statement (via THR), Academy CEO Dawn Hudson and president David Rubin acknowledged they “did not adequately address” the situation and apologised for falling short and being “unprepared for the unprecedented”.

“The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year,” read the statement. “However, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behaviour we saw Mr Smith exhibit on stage.”

“The Board has decided, for a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards.”

The statement also paid tribute to Rock for his handling of the situation and continuing to present the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature: “We want to express our deep gratitude to Mr Rock for maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances. We also want to thank our hosts, nominees, presenters and winners for their poise and grace during our telecast.”

In a statement released shortly after the ruling, Smith said: “I accept and respect the Academy’s decision.”

The King Richard star had already resigned his position as a member of the Academy and promised to “fully accept any and all consequences” for his conduct.

You can find more celebrity news on our website and iOS & Android application.