Cover At the 2022 Oscars, Will Smith proceeded to win Best Actor despite his antics, which caused many celebrities and fans to be dismayed at the Academy (Photo: IMDB)
At the 2022 Oscars, Will Smith proceeded to win Best Actor despite his antics, which caused many celebrities and fans to be dismayed at the Academy (Photo: IMDB)
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Whether due to legal troubles, public scandals or a pattern of disruptive behaviour, these rare bans a the Oscars serve as a reminder that even in the world of entertainment, actions have consequences
The Oscars is a night of glitz, glamour and the occasional unexpected twist. This year’s ceremony unfolded without incident—aside from Kieran Culkin’s censored speech—offering a rare seamless celebration. However, not every year is smooth sailing. While the guest list boasts Hollywood's brightest stars, the Academy Awards does, on occasion, bar individuals from attending. Whether for actual crimes, major scandals or just being an all-around menace, these rare bans serve as a reminder that even in the world of entertainment, actions have consequences.
Also read: Kieran Culkin is the endearing master of the heartfelt, nervous acceptance speech
1. Harvey Weinstein
Date of ban: 2017
Why? Decades of sexual misconduct allegations that sparked the #MeToo movement
This is the Academy Award’s most obvious (and overdue) ban. After all, the organisation prides itself on maintaining a certain level of decorum, but for years, it turned a blind eye to one of Hollywood’s biggest open secrets: Harvey Weinstein’s reign of terror. Then, in 2017, Ronan Farrow’s bombshell exposé changed everything, leading to Weinstein’s conviction and subsequent 23-year prison sentence. The Academy booted him faster than a losing nominee trying to exit gracefully.
However, his ex-wife Georgina Chapman did attend this year’s event. She's been dating Oscar Best Actor Adrian Brody since 2020.
2. Roman Polanski
Above Some of the celebrities who stood to applaud the Oscars' 2003 Best Director included Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep and Martin Scorsese
Date of ban: 2018
Why? Fleeing the US after pleading guilty to the statutory rape of a 13-year-old
Roman Polanski was convicted in 1977 but didn’t get banned until 2018. That means, for over 40 years, he was still sending in his Academy dues while hiding in Europe like a Bond villain. Even wilder? He won an Oscar for Best Director in 2003 for The Pianist, and received a standing ovation despite being a fugitive. The Academy finally revoked his membership when Weinstein’s downfall forced Hollywood to reckon with its past.
3. Carmine Caridi
Date of ban: 2004
Why? Leaking Oscar screeners
In a plot twist worthy of an HBO limited series, Carmine Caridi was the first person the Academy ever formally banned. Fascinatingly, the reason was not for a crime, a scandal or even slugging someone on live TV. Caridi was banned because he was sharing his Oscar screeners (the DVDs sent to Academy members for voting) with a friend, who then uploaded them to the internet.
The FBI got involved, lawsuits were filed and the Academy was so horrified that they banned him for life. Truly, the most anticlimactic ban on this list.
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4. Will Smith
Above At the 2022 Oscars ceremony, Will Smith proceeded to win Best Actor despite his antics, which caused many other celebrities and fans to be dismayed at the Academy (Photo: IMDB)
At the 2022 Oscars ceremony, Will Smith proceeded to win Best Actor despite his antics, which caused many other celebrities and fans to be dismayed at the Academy (Photo: IMDB)
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Date of ban: 2022
Why? Slapping Chris Rock on live TV
The Oscars have had their fair share of wild moments, but Will Smith slapping Chris Rock on stage before winning Best Actor stands out as one of the most unforgettable. One moment, everyone was laughing at Rock’s joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, and the next, Will was storming the stage like it was a Marvel action sequence.
After the event, the Academy banned him for 10 years. Will’s response? He resigned from the Academy and went on an odd social media apology tour.
Also read: The imperfect art of the celebrity apology: When to speak and stay silent, and who did it best
5. Adam Kimmel
Date of ban: 2021
Why? Being a convicted sex offender
You may not have heard of him, but the Academy certainly has. Unlike some of the high-profile bans, Adam Kimmel’s exit barely made a ripple. A cinematographer (Capote, Never Let Me Go), Kimmel was quietly expelled in 2021 after reports surfaced that he had been convicted of sex crimes involving minors twice. He was charged in 2003 and 2010 and his banishment was prompted by a 2021 exposé that quietly led to his erasure on several big-name projects and the Academy’s list. That same year, he was removed from the American Society of Cinematographers.
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