In a little more than what is considered a slap on the wrist from Oscar Board of Governors for assaulting comedian cum actor, Chris Rock on-stage at t
In a little more than what is considered a slap on the wrist from Oscar Board of Governors for assaulting comedian cum actor, Chris Rock on-stage at the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, Will Smith has been barred from attending the prestigious movie event for 10 years.
“The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year; however, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behavior we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage.
“During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. 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.
“We want to express our deep gratitude to Mr. Rock for maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances. We also want to thank our hosts, nominees, presenters and winners for their poise and grace during our telecast.
“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,” Rubin’s letter concluded.
