Academy Bans Include Will Smith and Polanski

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has banned several high-profile individuals from attending the Oscars, with the most recent being Will Smith, who received a 10-year ban after slapping Chris Rock on stage during the 2022 ceremony for a joke about his wife. This incident, while shocking, did not prevent Smith from winning Best Actor that night. Other notable figures banned include Roman Polanski, who was expelled in 2018 due to his conviction for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, and Harvey Weinstein, who was banned following numerous sexual assault allegations. Carmine Caridi was expelled for leaking Oscar screeners, marking the first such expulsion in Academy history. The Academy emphasizes strict adherence to a code of conduct to maintain its reputation, and bans are typically reserved for serious violations.