Will Smith (53) is no longer welcome at the Oscars for ten years after the blow that the actor gave to Chris Rock (57). The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, the organization behind the film awards, has just decided that. He is also no longer allowed to attend other meetings.
Will’s blow to comedian Chris Rock was “unacceptable” according to the board, which met via Zoom. The organization has also apologized for the fact that the broadcast went ahead without acknowledging the incident. “It was an opportunity for us to set an example for our guests and viewers and we fell short, being unprepared for something that has never happened before,” the organization said.
The actor has accepted the decision that he will not be welcome at the Oscars for the next ten years. “I accept and respect the decision of the Academy,” he said in a brief statement to US media.
The board was not supposed to discuss the consequences of the blow until April 18, but has brought the meeting forward because Will announced last week that he had canceled his membership at the Academy.
Will said in a statement that he violated the trust of the Academy and denied his fellow actors who were nominated for or won an Oscar the chance to celebrate their success. He also expressed renewed regret for his act, writing that he will “work to ensure that I will never again allow violence to triumph over reason.” Will hit Chris for making a joke about his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith. She suffers from the hair disease alopecia.
Because Will has canceled his membership, he can no longer vote for the Oscars. Also, he can no longer attend every event that the Academy organizes. His decision won’t affect the Oscar he won last week for best male lead, unless the Academy decides to take it from him. Will could also just be nominated for an Oscar in the future.
Will Smith banned from Oscars gala and other Academy events for 10 years after slapping comic Chris Rock at the Oscarshttps://t.co/1zvNALhFUI
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) April 8, 2022
