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“I accept and respect the Academy’s decision,” – Will Smith reacts to ban
Will Smith has been banned from the Oscars gala and other Academy events for 10 years after the US actor slapped comic Chris Rock at the Oscars.
In a statement, the Academy said the 94th Oscars had been “overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behaviour we saw Mr Smith exhibit on stage”.
Immediately after the Academy made their decision public, Smith said in a statement;
“I accept and respect the Academy’s decision.”
Smith has apologised for his actions and resigned from the Academy.
The actor hit Rock for joking about his wife’s shaved head, a result of the hair-loss condition alopecia.
Less than an hour later, he was awarded the best actor award for his role in “King Richard”, where he played the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams.
The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts and Science, which organises the awards ceremony, met virtually on Friday to discuss disciplinary action.