Will Smith banned from Oscars for 10 years over Chris Rock slap

Will Smith has been banned from the Oscars and other film academy events for 10 years for slapping Chris Rock onstage at the Academy Awards, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) announced on Friday.

The Board of Governors had been meeting to discuss and ultimately determined punishment for Smith for his actions at the awards show.

In a statement, the academy called Smith’s actions “unacceptable and harmful.”

“I accept and respect the Academy’s decision,” Smith said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.

The academy also apologized for handling the situation, saying Smith should not have been able to remain at the ceremony to accept his award for best actor.

“During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. For this, we are sorry,” the academy said. “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.”

Last week, Smith resigned from the motion picture academy following his Oscars night slap and said he would accept any further punishment the organization imposed.

Chris Rock appears at the FX portion of the Television Critics Association Winter press tour in Pasadena, Calif., on January 9, 2020, left, and Will Smith appears at the 94th Academy Awards nominees luncheon in Los Angeles on March 7, 2022. Smith was banned from Oscars and other film academy events for 10 years for slapping Rock onstage at Academy Awards. Photo courtesy: AP Photo.

In a statement released on April 1, Smith said he would “fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct.”

“My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable.”

The incident happened on March 27 when Rock was on stage to present the award for best documentary. He quipped about Smith’s best actor nomination before mocking Jada Pinkett-Smith’s shaved head, saying: “G.I. Jane 2 — can’t wait to see it.”

Pinkett Smith, who has been outspoken over her condition of alopecia areata, was seated next to Smith and did not appear amused, while Smith laughed at the joke.

As the camera pans back to Rock, he pauses before Smith walks up on stage and slaps him across the face. He returned to his seat and shouted profanity at Rock, telling the comedian to keep his wife’s name out of his f****** mouth. He repeated it twice.

Audience members and television viewers were astounded by the ordeal, with some wondering whether it was scripted. The following day, Smith issued an apology to Rock and the Academy via Instagram and Facebook.

The AMPAS issued a statement the same day, criticizing Smith’s actions and announcing a formal review.

With files from The Associated Press