The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has banned Will Smith from all Academy events for 10 years for slapping Chris Rock during this year’s show.
“The Board of Governors 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,” they announced Friday.
The statement continued, “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.”
Smith will keep his Oscar for his role in “King Richard.”
Ahead of the official decision, Smith himself resigned from the Academy last week, which originally meant he gave up the right to vote, but would continue to be nominated, attend and keep his current award.
During the March 27 broadcast, Rock made a “G.I. Jane 2” joke in reference to Jada Pinkett Smith — who suffers from alopecia — having a shaved head, prompting Smith to walk on stage and smack the comedian.
Smith then shouted at Rock, “Keep my wife’s name out your f–king mouth!”
Moments after the slap heard ’round the world, Smith accepted the Best Actor Oscar. While he apologized to the Academy and quipped that he hoped he’d be invited back, he did not mention Rock in his speech.
On Monday after the show, Smith took to social media to apologize for his actions, writing that they were “unacceptable and inexcusable.”
“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,” Smith added. “I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”
Meanwhile, the Academy attempted to do damage control, claiming it had asked the actor to leave following the slap, but he refused. The following day, sources claimed the organization lied about trying to make him leave.
And on Friday, April 1, producer Will Packer went on “Good Morning America” and said he was not part of the conversations asking Smith to leave.
“I said, ‘Rock has made it clear that he does not want to make a bad situation worse. That was Chris’ image,’ so I was advocating what Rock wanted in that time, which was not to physically remove Will Smith at that time because, as it has now been explained to me, that was the only option at that point.”
Later in the day, Smith officially resigned from the Academy, announcing that he would accept any further consequences it might give him.
“The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home,” he said in a statement, adding he was “heartbroken.”
As for Rock, he’s avoided broaching the subject during his recent gigs in Boston and New York City, telling an overzealous crowd at The Comedy Cellar Tuesday to “Lower your expectations. I’m not going to address that s–t.”
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