The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences banned Will Smith from attending all Academy events, including the Oscars, for the next 10 years, multiple news outlets reported Friday, following his slap of comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars ceremony.
Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson said in a letter “Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards” for 10 years, starting on April 8, 2022.
Smith’s resignation from the Academy and ban from future events does not prevent him from being nominated for or winning future awards.
In the letter, Rubin and Hudson apologized for failing to “adequately address the situation in the room,” and expressed “deep gratitude” to Rock for “maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances.”
The Academy began disciplinary proceedings against Smith on March 30, and originally scheduled a board meeting to discuss possible punishments for April 18, but Rubin moved up the meeting after Smith resigned from the Academy last week, as the group was no longer legally required to provide him a 15-day notice that he could be suspended or expelled.
The Academy’s Board of Governors is a 54-person group made up of professionals from every film industry discipline, including actress Whoopi Goldberg and director Stephen Spielberg.