Why is Will Smith banned from the Oscars? Which other celebrities have been banned from award shows?
The actor made headlines when he slapped comedian Chris Rock as the Oscars last month. Will he be able to keep his award after being banned from AMPAS?
Will Smith’s fall from Oscar-winning grace continues as the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences board of governors announces its decision to ban him from all events, including the Oscars, for ten years.
The actor stormed on stage at the 2022 ceremony last month to confront comedian Chris Rock, who had made a joke at the expense of Smith’s wife, Jada. He slapped Rock and continued to threaten the comedian after returning to his seat.
Smith was awarded the Oscar for Best Actor just minutes after the shocking incident, an award that should have been the crowning moment of a hugely successful career. The Academy has issued a statement describing Smith’s actions as “unacceptable and harmful”.
“The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year,” the Academy wrote. “However, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behaviour we saw Mr Smith exhibit on stage.”
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Can Will Smith keep his Oscar after being banned from the Academy?
Despite the Academy’s statement decrying Smith’s outburst, and the ten-year punishment handed down, for now it looks like the actor will be able to keep his Oscar. Multiple reports have suggested that Smith was asked to leave the ceremony after he attacked Rock, but he stayed to pick up the award.
After that he attended an Oscars after party and was filmed rapping along to one of his signature hits, ‘Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It’, surrounded by stars.
The statement released by the Academy outlined the terms of his ban: “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.”
However while he is banned from the ceremonies no mention was made of his eligibility to be nominated for, and even to win, Academy Awards in future. With this in mind, and considering that the outburst came after all votes had been cast for the 2022 Oscars, there is no reason to assume that he would be stripped of the award
He does, however, join the ignominious list of those who have been banned from awards ceremonies. Last weekend’s Grammy Awards took place in Las Vegas, without one of the most enigmatic names in music present. Kanye West become the most successful rapper in the history of the Grammys with two more wins on Sunday, however he was uninvited from the ceremony in relation to social media posts.
A statement from the Grammys confirmed that West would not be attending, due to “concerning online behaviour.”
Last year country star Morgan Waller was banned from a number of awards ceremonies, including the Academy of Country Music, after a video surfaced showing him using a racial slur. He was also blacklisted from a number of radio stations and dropped by his record label, Big Loud.