Will Smith and other celebrities who have been banned from the Oscars

(L to R) Bill Cosby, Will Smith, Richard Gere

With the 95th Academy Awards right around the corner, here’s a look at celebrities who have been banned from the awards ceremony. From last year’s infamous slapgate that led to a 10-year ban for Will Smith to Richard Gere’s 20-year ban for his onstage remarks on China, these are celebrities who have courted controversy and how!

Ahead of Oscars 2023, here’s a look at celebrities who have been banned by the Academy:

Will Smith

Will Smith has been banned from attending the Oscars for the next 10 years. His ban was announced two weeks after the actor stunned the world by storming on stage mid-ceremony last year to slap comedian Chris Rock. Smith is not permitted to attend any other events held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences over the next decade. He is, however, still eligible to be nominated for Oscars.

Richard Gere

Richard Gere was handed a two-decade ban in 1993 after he denounced the Chinese government onstage at the Oscars. “I wonder if Deng Xiaoping is watching this right now with his children and his grandchildren and the knowledge that what a horrendous human rights situation there is in China. Not only towards their own people but towards Tibet as well,” he remarked before presenting the Oscar for Art Direction. The ban was deemed over in 2013.

Harvey Weinstein

Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was banned from the Oscars and expelled from the Academy in the wake of #MeToo allegations. Weinstein’s expulsion came in 2017, with the Academy calling his actions “repugnant, abhorrent, and antithetical to the high standards of the Academy and the creative community it represents.”

Roman Polanski

Accused of raping a minor, Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski was expelled from the Academy in 2018. The expulsion came more than 40 years after the incident. The fugitive film director sued in April 2019, asking the court to compel the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to make him a member in good standing again. His request was denied by a judge. Polanski is known for critically acclaimed films like Rosemary's Baby and Chinatown.

Bill Cosby

Actor and comedian Bill Cosby was expelled from the Academy on the same day as Polanski. Accused of assaulting a woman, Cosby was expelled for violating the Academy’s conduct code.

(With inputs from agencies)