The Academy has decided to ban Will Smith from ceremonies and events for 10 years after he slapped Chris Rock, but the response has been rather mixed considering there are plenty of criminals in the Academy who have never faced disciplinary actions.
via Complex:
While the Academy decided earlier this month that “for a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards,” some viewers don’t think enough of a punishment was given to other Oscar winners like Harvey Weinstein and Roman Polanski.
“BREAKING: Will Smith banned by the Hollywood Academy, 12 days after he slapped Chris Rock,” Piers Morgan wrote on Twitter Friday morning. “It took the same Academy 40 years to ban Roman Polanski after he was convicted of raping a child.”
Polanski won the Academy Award for Best Director in 2003 for The Pianist, 26 years after he was first arrested and charged with six offenses against a 13-year-old girl in Los Angeles, including unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and rape by use of drugs. Neither he, nor Weinstein—who was sentenced to 23 years in prison in New York after being found guilty of a first-degree criminal sexual act and third-degree rape, and who has been accused by dozens of women of sexual assault–have had their Academy Awards rescinded, one Twitter user pointed out???????. Smith has not been asked to return his award.
“Just a reminder that Harvey Weinstein and Roman Polanski never had their Oscars rescinded, John Wayne was never expelled, and the Academy never apologized to Hattie McDaniel,” Twitter user @RieveAlavaix wrote. “Just in case anyone was looking at the Academy as some moral beacon.”
There is a point to be made here.
Y’all gave Roman Polanski an Oscar in 2003 after he plead guilty to a lesser charge of sex with a minor when he really drugged and raped a 13yo and then he fled the country. https://t.co/AkMhk0XTof
— celia (@_celia_bedelia_) April 8, 2022
Let me reiterate
Roman Polanski, someone who FLED THE UNITED STATES in 1978
WON HIS ONLY OSCAR IN 2003 AS A FUGITIVE OF THE UNITED STATES
And was only kicked out of the Academy in 2018. 40 years after he became a fugitive. https://t.co/KISJOaTAie
— Jacob Throneberry (@jtberry97) April 2, 2022
A fun thing to do would be cross referencing members of the Academy that wanted Will Smith banned with members of the Academy that signed the Roman Polanski petition letter pic.twitter.com/ICxD1lRS01
— Kristi Yamaguccimane (@TheWapplehouse) April 8, 2022
