Will Smith Banned By Academy From Attending Oscars For 10 Years Over Chris Rock Slap

The motion picture academy banned Will Smith from attending the Oscars or any other academy event for 10 years following the slapping incident involving him and Chris Rock at the Academy Awards.

Will Smith has tendered his resignation from the body that awards the Oscars after his attack on Chris Rock during the weekend ceremony. (AFP Photos)

New Delhi: The motion picture academy on Friday banned Holly wood actor Will Smith from attending the Oscars or any other academy event for 10 years after the slapping incident involving him and Chris Rock at the Academy Awards.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the academy's Board of Governors to discuss a response to Smith's actions, the Associated Press reported. It is unclear if the ban is going to affect future nominations.

“The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year; however, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behavior we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage,” the academy said in a statement, as quoted by the Associated Press.

“I accept and respect the Academy's decision,” Smith stated in response.

He had pre-emptively resigned from the academy last week during the run-up to the meeting, calling his actions "shocking, painful, and inexcusable.”

The academy also apologised for its handling of the situation in allowing the “King Richard” actor to stay and accept his best actor award. “During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. For this, we are sorry,” the academy stated.

“This was an opportunity for us to set an example for our guests, viewers and our Academy family around the world, and we fell short - unprepared for the unprecedented. ”

In a statement following the Oscars, the academy had stated that Smith was asked to leave the ceremony but he refused.

As per the AP, it was unclear how it was communicated to Smit has several media outlets reported that he was never formally told to leave the Dolby Theatre.

As per a report by The Los Angeles Times, Oscars producer Will Packer told Smith: “Officially, we don't want you to leave. We want you to stay.”

With the ban, Will Smith will not be presenting one of the major awards at next year's Oscars, contrary to tradition for the best actor winner.

The academy in its Friday statement also expressed “deep gratitude to Mr. Rock for maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances.”

The academy's statement did not reveal whether he could be nominated for Oscars during his 10-year ban. It has also not sought to revoke Smith's Academy Award.

Notably, the academy has not revoked Oscars from expelled members Harvey Weinstein or Roman Polanski.

With his resignation last week, Smith lost the ability to vote for nominees and winners.

The Slap That Overshadowed Smith's Best Actor Win

At the March 27 Academy Awards, Rock came out to present the best documentary Oscar and made jokes about several attendees, including Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

“Jada, I love you. G.I. Jane 2,' can't wait to see it,” Rock said.

Pinkett Smith, who has spoken publicly about her hair loss condition, alopecia, had a closely shaved head similar to that of Demi Moore in the 1997 movie.

Smith strode from his front-row seat onto the stage and smacked Rock, stunning the comedian, the theater crowd, and viewers at home.

Many thought it was a planned gag set up by the show or the men themselves, but the seriousness of the situation set in after Smith returned to his seat and angrily twice shouted at Rock to “keep my wife's name out your (expletive) mouth.” Rock said he had no interest in pursuing charges when asked by police backstage.

Smith took the stage again less than hour later to accept his Oscar, tearfully apologising to the academy but notably omitting any mention of Rock. He compared himself to Richard Williams, the man he played in “King Richard,” “a fierce defender of his family.” Later that night, Smith danced with his trophy and his family and rapped along with his own songs in celebration of his win at the Vanity Fair post-Oscars party.

Rock has only briefly addressed the attack publicly, saying at one comedy concert in Boston this week that he was still “kind of processing what happened.”