The Academy bans Will Smith from Oscars and related events for next ten years

As promised, The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has taken disciplinary action against Will Smith. During the Academy’s board meeting recently, the actor was banned from attending the Oscars and related events for the next ten years.

According to a report in The Hollywood Reporter, a special meeting between the governors of the Academy’s board was convened recently, where the decision was made. The ban however does not prevent the I Am Legend actor from being eligible for future Oscar nominations and wins. He will also be allowed to keep the award he won recently as well.

After the recent meeting, prominent members of the Academy acknowledged that they fell short in handling the situation when it arose, and thanked the attendees at the ceremony for ‘their poise and grace’, especially Rock.

After the decision, Smith’s spokesperson issued a statement from the actor, in which he says that he ‘accepted and respected the Academy’s decision’.

The Academy had promised to take action against Smith after the actor slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage for making a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s appearance at this year’s Oscars. In an earlier statement, they had also revealed that Smith was asked to leave the ceremony, and had refused to do so.

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After the altercation, the Suicide Squad actor issued a public apology to the stand-up comedian and the Academy, saying his behaviour was ‘unacceptable and inexcusable’. He had also resigned from the Academy as well, on his own accord. Smith had gone on to win the Academy Award for Best Actor at the ceremony, for his performance in King Richard.