Will Smith has been banned from attending the Academy Awards ceremony for ten years after he slapped comedian Chris Rock during the Oscars in March, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences announced Friday.
The Academy’s Board of Governors met on Friday to vote on a course of action for Smith.
The Oscars were “overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behavior we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage,” Academy president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson said in a statement. “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 Academy bans Will Smith from attending the Oscars and any other Academy events for 10 years: pic.twitter.com/hoIuHnVpjD
— Clarissa-Jan Lim (@clarissajanlim) April 8, 2022
Smith, who won an Oscar for his performance in King Richard, resigned from the Academy last Friday.
Smith slapped Rock after the comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, saying “Jada, I love you. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it.” Pinkett Smith has alopecia, or hair loss, and shaved her head in December.
Will Smith reacted to the joke by getting on stage and slapping Rock across the face. After returning to his seat, Smith shouted at Rock twice, telling him to keep “my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth.”