In a statement, the Academy denounced Smiths’s “unacceptable” and “harmful” behavior that “overshadowed” the whole night.
“During our TV show, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. For that, we are sorry. This was an opportunity for us to set an example for our guests, the spectators and the family of our Academy around the world, and we were left – unprepared for the unprecedented.
“The Board has decided that for a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith will not be allowed to attend Academy events or programs, in person or in person, including, for example, the Oscars.
“We want to express our deep gratitude to Mr. Rock for keeping him calm under exceptional circumstances. We also want to thank our hosts, nominees, presenters and winners for their sensitivity and grace during our TV show. ‘
In a statement issued Friday afternoon after the decision was made, Smith told Deadline: “I accept and respect the Academy’s decision.”
He had already resigned from the Academy last Friday, taking the decision to cancel his membership, as was the case with Harvey Weinstein.
Smith’s wife, Jada, will still be allowed to attend face-to-face events.
Infamous: Smith slapped Rock after he made a joke about his wife Jada’s bald head during the presentation of the best documentary at the Oscars last Sunday
Smith apologized when he won the Academy Award for Best Actor after being slapped on March 27
He then returned to his cheerful self after the Vanity Fair party
ENTIRE STATEMENT OF THE ACADEMY
The 94th Oscars were going to be a celebration for the many people in our community who did an incredible job last year. However, these moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behavior that we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage.
During our TV show, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. For that, we are sorry. This was an opportunity for us to set an example for our guests, the spectators and the family of our Academy around the world, and we were left – unprepared for the unprecedented.
Today, the Board of Governors convened a meeting to discuss how to better respond to Will Smith’s actions at the Oscars, in addition to accepting his resignation. The Board has decided that for a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith will not be allowed to attend Academy events or programs, in person or in person, including, for example, the Oscars.
We want to express our deep gratitude to Mr. Rock for keeping his composure under exceptional circumstances. We also want to thank the hosts, the nominees, the presenters and the winners for their sensitivity and grace during our TV show.
This action we are taking today in response to Will Smith’s conduct is a step towards a broader goal of protecting the safety of our artists and guests and restoring confidence in the Academy. We also hope that a period of healing and rehabilitation can begin for all involved and affected.
The 54-member board of directors met on Friday morning after heated discussions among its 9,000 members who have been raging for the past 12 days in hundreds of WhatsApp groups.
The slap split Hollywood and the public, with some insisting he should be stripped of his Oscar and not rewarded for the violence, while others said they rejected it and ridiculed it on social media.
Smith with his wife Jada at the Vanity Fair after party. She will be allowed to attend future events
Smith slapped Rock on stage after the comedian made a joke about the shaved head of his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith. Pinkett-Smith has been open in the past about her fights with alopecia.
After the slap, Smith returned to his seat and screamed “hold my wife’s name out of your mouth.”
He then won the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his role as Richard Williams in King Richard. He used his speech to apologize to the Academy and Rock and later posted an apology on Instagram.
Rock has remained silent on the matter, speaking openly only to say that he was “working out” what happened.
With the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences deciding on Friday whether Will Smith will be removed from the Academy Award for Best Actor after slapping comedian Chris Rock on stage, it looks like there could be a split among decision-makers.
The agency’s 54-member board will make the ultimate call – but they are struggling to reach a consensus and are “almost completely divided,” a source told The Sun.
Many said their reluctance to take the drastic step in revoking Smith’s Oscar was based on the fact that sexual predators Harvey Weinstein and Roman Polanski did not lose their Oscars.
“The decision was made earlier this week to expedite the hearing after Will’s resignation, and during that call it was clear that a decision would be made.”
“The general consensus is that it would be madness and hypocrisy to take such a position now,” the source said. “But as we all know, Hollywood is a law in itself, honestly.”
The academy’s 9,000 members are also apparently divided over the decision, the source said.
The discussion continues in “hundreds” of WhatsApp groups containing thousands of members.
David Rubin, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, told the board on Wednesday that he was conveying a meeting originally scheduled for April 18 this Friday at 9 a.m. PST.
“Following Mr Smith’s resignation from the Academy on Friday, April 1, the suspension or expulsion is no longer possible and the legal schedule is no longer valid.
“It is in the interest of all those involved to be dealt with in a timely manner,” he wrote in a letter.
Apology: Will has since apologized in an Instagram post, saying he was “ashamed” of his actions, which shocked attendees, producers and viewers.
The board has some penalties that could result. They could make Smith unfit for future awards or bar him from attending future ceremonies temporarily or permanently.
They could also remove Smith, 53, from the Academy Award for Best Actor, which won less than an hour after the attack on stage – although the last time the board canceled an award was more than 50 years ago.
Rubin said the meeting was originally scheduled for April 18 only to give Smith enough notice, which is no longer necessary, according to Variety, which first published Rubin’s letter.
The virtual meeting will take place via Zoom.
The Academy has canceled only one Oscar. In 1969, he discovered that the documentary Young Americans, which won Best Documentary that year, had actually been released in 1967.
“The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my best friends and loved ones, everyone present and the global audience at home,” Smith said.
“I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other candidates and winners of the opportunity to celebrate and be honored for their outstanding work. “I am heartbroken.”
Although the board could technically take back its statuette – given for the role of tennis coach Richard Williams to King Richard – there is little precedent for such a drastic move.
Difficult times: Chris Rock was seen looking melancholy on a solo outing in New York on Tuesday after his brother hit Will Smith and said the Academy should take away his Oscar
“It eats me”: Meanwhile, Kenny’s 42-year-old younger brother told the Los Angeles Times that he had trouble repeatedly watching the now infamous moment involving his brother at last week’s Oscars
Speaking to The View the day after the March 27 ceremony, actress Whoopi Goldberg, the current Actress’s Academy leader, defended Will’s actions, saying “sometimes you misbehave.”
Smith slapped Rock, 57, in front of the world on a live television broadcast after the comedian made a joke about the hair loss of Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, caused by alopecia.
Whoopi said on Monday’s show: “I think there were a lot of things that were probably created.
“I think he reacted too much. I think he had one of those moments that was like [God damn] just stop. I understand, not everyone behaves the way we would like to act under pressure. And it broke …
“Sometimes you get to a point where you behave badly. “I myself have behaved badly at times.”
Whoopi co-host Sunny Hostin said she was “surprised [Will] he was not led out, “and wondered if there was a possibility that Smith’s Oscar would be removed.
Whoopi replied: “We are not going to take this Oscar from him.
There will be consequences, I’m sure, but I do not think they will do that, especially since Chris said, ‘Listen, I’re not accusing.’
Speaking to Us Weekly, an anonymous expert said that Pinkett-Smith wishes her husband would never slap Rock.
“He was in the heat of the moment and was overreacting,” the source said. “She knows that, she knows that too. “They agree that he reacted too much.”
They also claimed that Pinkett Smith “is not a wall flower” or “one of those women who needs protection”.
“He did not have to do what he did,” they added.
Rock, on the other hand, has barely faced the onslaught of his stand-up concerts.
Appearing in surprise at Comedy Cellar in New York on Tuesday night, Rock said, “Lower your expectations, I’m not going to face this s ***,” a source told Page Six.
Earlier that day, he was spotted walking alone in the city. The 57-year-old comedian walked with his hands in his bomber jacket on Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, Kenny’s 42-year-old younger brother told the Los Angeles Times that he has trouble repeatedly watching the now infamous moment for his brother since last week’s Oscars. He said Smith should be removed from the Best Actor trophy.
He…
