WILL SMITH'S WILL : 10 YEARS BAN

 

Los Angeles : Will Smith banned from Oscars. The actor cannot attend annual event for 10 years.

Hollywood's film academy on Friday banned Will Smith from attending the Oscars for 10 years after the best actor winner slapped presenter Chris Rock on stage at the Academy Award ceremony 12 days ago.

The board of governors of the Academy Motion Picture Arts and Sciences took the action at a meeting held one week after Smith preemptively resigned from the group over his outburst at the live, televised event.

''The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year,'' academy President David Rubin and Chief Executive Dawn Hudson said in a statement.

''However, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behaviour we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage.''

In a statement, Smith said, ''I accept and respect the Academy's decision.'' The actor has issued previous statements apologising to Rock, the Oscars producers, nominees and viewers.

In addition to the Oscars, the film's world most prestigious awards, the board banned Smith from all other academy events and programmes, in person or virtually, for 10 years.

The group did not say, however, that he would be ineligible to be nominated for Oscars during that time. Smith's next movie, the action thriller EMANCIPATION, about a man who escapes from slavery, had been set for release later this year.

The World Students Society thanks The Express Tribune.