The Academy Awards are considered to be the most prestigious event in the filmmaking industry. And, of course, every year, artists, producers and more dream to have a seat during the ceremony. However, there are some celebrities who have been banned from being at the Oscars.
The Oscars are presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which has over 10,000 members currently. The goal of the awards is to “recognize and uphold excellence” in the filmmaking industry, and, let’s just say, that some celebrities haven’t held a good image for the Academy.
While many people will remember that Will Smith was the most recent celebrity to receive a 10-year ban from the awards, there have been other names to also been prohibited to set foot at the ceremony. Check out the full list.
Will Smith
After walking to the stage to slap presenter Chris Rock over a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith at the 2022 ceremony, Smith received a ten-year ban from the Academy. The actor has apologized for his behavior, but it doesn’t seem like the Academy is thinking of forgiving him soon.
Harvey Weinstein
Once one of the most successful and powerful producers in Hollywood, Weinstein’s realm fell apart after he was accused by multiple women of abuse and harassment, sparking the start of the global MeToo movement. In 2017, the Academy held an emergency session, banning Weinsten from appearing at the ceremony. In 2020, he was convicted for his crimes.
Richard Gere
In 1993, when presenting the award for “Best Art Direction,” Richard Gere ignored the script on the teleprompter and took the opportunity to criticize “”horrendous, horrendous human-rights situation” in Tibet. The Academy reportedly banned him for 20-years, but he appeared at the 2003’s ceremony in support of “Chicago” (which won Best Picture).
Carmine Caridi
The actor, renowned for his minor roles in the final two films of “The Godfather” trilogy, received a lifetime ban in 2004. This came after he was discovered unlawfully distributing VHS copies of that year’s nominated films, which he had received as an Academy voter.
Bill Cosby
A month after Bill Cosby was convicted of sexual assault in 2018, the Academy issued a permanent ban against him. In an official statement, the Academy said: “The Board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy’s values of respect for human dignity.”
Roman Polanski
The same day of Cosby’s ban, the Academy also announced that they were also banning Roman Polanski for historical sexual-assault allegations. For many people, this one was long-time overdue.
Adam Kimmel
Cinematographer Adam Kimmel was convicted of rape before joining the Academy in 2007. However, they expelled him in 2021 after an exposé from Variety. In a statement, the Academy said that their invitation system “relies on the integrity of prospective members,” and that they will “continue to examine its member-selection process regularly to ensure that it accurately reflects Academy values.”