The board of directors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences took action in a meeting held a week after that Will Smith about his outburst during the live televised event had left the group as a precaution, took place.
The Hollywood Film Academy on Friday (April 9) banned Will Smith from attending the Oscars for 10 years after the Best Actor winner Will Smith beat presenter Chris Rock onstage at the Oscars 12 days ago. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ board of trustees took action at a meeting held a week after Will Smith preemptively resigned from the group following his outburst during the live TV event.
“The 94th Academy Awards should be a celebration of the many people in our community who have done an incredible job over the past year,” Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson said in a statement. . “However, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and damaging behavior we saw Mr. Will Smith exhibit on stage.”
In a statement, Smith said, “I accept and respect the Academy’s decision.” The actor made previous statements, apologizing to Rock, the producers, Oscar nominees and viewers. In addition to the Oscars, the most prestigious awards in the film world, the board banned Smith from all other Academy events and programs, in person or virtually, for 10 years.
However, the group did not say that they might not be nominated for an Oscar during this time. Smith’s next film, the action thriller Emancipation, about a man fleeing slavery, was due out later this year. There has been no update on the Apple TV+ movie since Smith took the stage at the March 27 ceremony after comedian Rock made a joke about the appearance of the wife of the actor, Jada Pinkett Smith, then slapped Rock in the face.
Less than an hour later, Will Smith gave a tearful speech on stage while accepting the best actor award for his role in King Richard, in which he played the father of tennis superstars Serena and Venus Williams. After the ceremony, he was spotted dancing at Vanity Fair’s annual post-Oscars party.
Rock’s joke about Pinkett Smith referenced the 1997 movie G.I. Jane, in which actress Demi Moore shaved her head. It was unclear if Rock knew she had a condition that causes hair loss. Dana Harris-Bridson, editor of online entertainment publication IndieWire, called Smith’s ban “too little, too late” and said the band should have pulled the actor from the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre. Looking back, the academy had few options, especially since Will Smith quit before his band membership could be revoked, she said. “The moment they had was the moment in the theater,” she said.
In Friday’s statement, academy leaders said they failed to adequately address the situation on the broadcast. “We’re sorry,” they said. “It was an opportunity for us to set an example for our guests, viewers and our Academy family around the world, and we weren’t prepared for the unprecedented.” Shortly after the incident, the Academy said it asked Will Smith to leave, but the details of that statement were disputed and the actor stayed on for the rest of the ceremony.
The CEO and President of the Academy also expressed “deep gratitude to Mr. Rock for keeping his composure under extraordinary circumstances. We would also like to thank our hosts, nominees, presenters and winners for their attitude and grace. throughout our show,” they said. “We also hope this can begin a period of healing and recovery for everyone involved and affected.”
Also Read: Saif Ali Khan can do 3rd marriage : leaving gorgeous Kareena kapoor as a mother of 2 children ?
