Will Smith Banned for 10 Years from Future Oscars-related and Academy of Motion Pictures Events

Will Smith’s 10-Year Ban from Oscars and Academy Events

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences rendered a decision regarding the future status of 2022 Oscar winner Will Smith, banning him from future Oscar ceremonies for 10 years.

President, David Rubin, and Chief Executive Dawn Hudson, acting on behalf of the Academy, issued the statement after a meeting on Friday of its board of governors. The punishment was delivered, based on “the unacceptable and harmful behavior we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage.”

The Academy also negatively critiqued its own behavior in response to the boldly aggressive and shocking move by Smith.

“During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room,” the statement read. “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.”

The ban on the actor applies not only to the Academy Awards but all events of any nature tied to the Academy.

Will Smith resigned from the Academy last Friday, April 1, issuing a statement that called his actions “shocking, painful and inexcusable.”

In their statement, the Academy also expressed its “deep gratitude” for Mr. Rock’s poise during the incident. In what could have become a far worse situation — as Smith yelled the worst kinds of profanity at the host — Chris Rock took the high road.

Disruptions in Current Will Smith Projects

Both Netflix and Sony had already stepped back from new projects immediately after the Oscar broadcast. Netflix has paused a new action-thriller named ‘Fast and Loose’, although others say it has been put in the deep freeze. Smith was due to make a fourth installment of hit action franchise ‘Bad Boys’. That project is also suspended by Sony.

Smith Apple TV Plus project ‘Emancipation’ is in post production and scheduled for release in 2022. Apple TV has issued no comment about the film, the story of a runaway slave who heads north, hoping to join the Union army.