Is Will Smith Next?: These stars have already been kicked out of the Academy

Will Smith next?
These stars were kicked out of the Academy

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Will Smith (53). The actor, who slapped comedian Chris Rock (57) at the Oscars, could lose his membership in the association. Among other things, the AMPAS awards the Oscars.

So far, AMPAS has only banned five people in its more than 90-year history. Four of them are convicted sex offenders.

Carmine Caridi

Carmine Caridi (1934-2019) was the first filmmaker to be kicked out of the Academy. The actor, who played small roles in the last two films of the “The Godfather” trilogy, was banned in 2004. He had made illegal copies of the screeners provided to Academy members. He passed it on to friends and family members, and some copies ended up on the Internet.

Harvey Weinstein

In October 2017, the first allegations against Harvey Weinstein (70) for sexual abuse were made. That same month, AMPAS removed the star producer from their ranks after an unscheduled meeting. Weinstein was later sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault.

After the Weinstein case, the Academy adopted a new code of conduct. “There is no place in the Academy for people who abuse their status, power or influence in a way that violates accepted norms of decency,” it said.

Bill Cosby

The new code of conduct first applied to Bill Cosby (84) in 2018. The comedian and actor was sentenced in April 2018 to three to ten years in prison for sexual abuse. A month later, the Academy responded. In 2021, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court vacated the conviction on a procedural error. Cosby was released from prison.

Roman Polanski

Parallel to the Cosby cause, the AMPAS also threw Roman Polanski (88) out of the Academy. The director was convicted in 1977 of raping a 13-year-old girl whom he allegedly drugged. Polanski appealed against the ban from the Academy, but lost in court.

Adam Kimmel

Cameraman Adam Kimmel (62) is the last filmmaker who had to leave AMPAS. It wasn’t until 2021 that it became public that Kimmel had been convicted of sexual contact with minors in 2003 and 2010. Also, he had not registered as a sex offender.

Will Smith now lose his Oscar?

Will Smith could become the sixth person to leave the Academy. The AMPAS Board of Directors is currently negotiating its response to Smith’s conduct. According to CNN it could be several weeks before a decision is reached.

Smith punched Chris Rock in the face at the Oscars on Sunday. The comedian previously joked about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s (50) hair loss due to illness. In his later acceptance speech after winning the Leading Actor Oscar, Will Smith tearfully apologized to the Academy. It was only later that he wrote to Rock for forgiveness.

Will Smith is unlikely to lose the Oscar. Neither Roman Polanski nor Harvey Weinstein had to return their awards.

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