an unprecedented 10-year ban
The film academy moves forward with harsh punishment after the Oscars slapBY JOSH ROTTENBERG,
GLENN WHIPP
LOS ANGELES TIMES
APRIL 8, 2022 12:16 PM PT
Nearly two weeks after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars over a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Friday it is forbidding Smith from attending any academy events, including the Oscars, for 10 years.“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 organization’s President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson said in a open letter to members following a meeting of the organization’s 54-member board.“This action we are taking today in response to Will Smith’s behavior is a step toward a larger goal of protecting the safety of our performers and guests, and restoring trust in the academy. We also hope this can begin a time of healing and restoration for all involved and impacted.”
The film academy moves forward with harsh punishment after the Oscars slapBY JOSH ROTTENBERG,
GLENN WHIPP
LOS ANGELES TIMES
APRIL 8, 2022 12:16 PM PT
Nearly two weeks after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars over a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Friday it is forbidding Smith from attending any academy events, including the Oscars, for 10 years.“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 organization’s President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson said in a open letter to members following a meeting of the organization’s 54-member board.“This action we are taking today in response to Will Smith’s behavior is a step toward a larger goal of protecting the safety of our performers and guests, and restoring trust in the academy. We also hope this can begin a time of healing and restoration for all involved and impacted.”
In their letter Friday, academy leaders expressed regret over their own handling of the incident and expressed gratitude to Rock for “maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances.”
“During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room,” Rubin and Hudson wrote. “For this, we are sorry. 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.”
Since adopting its code of conduct, the academy has expelled only three people: Weinstein, director Roman Polanski and comedian-author Bill Cosby. Weinstein and Polanski still have their Oscar trophies.