Keep in mind whenever you had been in class and a few child would get suspended for every week, and a part of you wished that you might get “punished” with a compelled trip?
That is most likely how lots of people in Hollywood are feeling as we speak, following the information that Will Smith will not be allowed to attend the Oscars for the following 10 years.
Sure, it is Hollywood’s largest evening, however it’s additionally Hollywood’s most boring evening, and the Contemporary Prince has an excuse to skip the festivities for the following decade as a part of his punishment for slapping Chris Rock at this yr’s ceremony.
That is per the choice introduced as we speak by the Academy of Movement Photos Arts & Sciences, which issued the next press launch moments in the past:
“The Board has determined, for a interval of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy occasions or applications, in individual or just about, together with however not restricted to the Academy Awards,” the assertion reads partly.
The assertion was credited to Academy President David Rubin and CEO Daybreak Hudson.
Insiders inform CNN that the choice was reached at as we speak’s Board of Governors assembly following “tons of debate” on the difficulty.
“I settle for and respect the Academy’s resolution,” Smith mentioned in a tersely worded assertion issued simply after the Academy’s announcement.
Usually, because the recipient of this yr’s Finest Actor award, Will would have a assured invite to subsequent yr’s Oscars.
In reality, he would most likely be requested to take the stage once more, this time as a presenter.
Clearly, the Academy will not be upholding that custom on the 2023 ceremony.
However hey, Will is poised to make a hell of a comeback in 2032 (assuming, after all, that Los Angeles hasn’t already been fully submerged by rising sea ranges)!
The assertion from the Academy goes on to excoriate Smith for overshadowing the evening’s different honorees:
“The 94th Oscars had been meant to be a celebration of the numerous people in our neighborhood who did unbelievable work this previous yr; nonetheless, these moments had been overshadowed by the unacceptable and dangerous habits we noticed Mr. Smith exhibit on stage,” the press launch reads.
The assertion additionally addresses criticism that Smith ought to have been faraway from the venue following his assault on Rock.
“Throughout our telecast, we didn’t adequately deal with the state of affairs within the room,” the assertion reads.
“For this, we’re sorry. This was a possibility for us to set an instance for our company, viewers and our Academy household world wide, and we fell brief — unprepared for the unprecedented.”
Clearly, the talk over whether or not Smith’s actions, the Academy’s response, and the style wherein the state of affairs was dealt with in its rapid aftermath will proceed to rage, most likely for years to come back.
Already, as we speak’s resolution has drawn a combined response on Twitter, with some complaining that the Academy has responded too harshly, and others expressing their perception that the group ought to have banned Smith for all times.
And naturally, the jokes and memes started pouring in inside seconds of as we speak’s announcement.
There isn’t any punishment that might have appeased everybody, and this case will probably stay one of the crucial divisive popular culture problems with all time.
However for higher or worse, the Academy took motion as we speak — and it stays to be seen what kind of impact this resolution can have on Smith’s profession and fame.
We’ll have additional updates on this creating story as extra data turns into accessible.
