7 votes

Will Smith banned from Oscars for ten years over slap

11 comments

  1. [5]
    mtset
    Link
    I think this is entirely appropriate - he behaved badly and is seeing consequences. That said, it's somewhat concerning to me that the Academy has not chosen to ban any of the many high-profile...

    I think this is entirely appropriate - he behaved badly and is seeing consequences.

    That said, it's somewhat concerning to me that the Academy has not chosen to ban any of the many high-profile celebrities who have been shown to be perpetrators of sexual assault. For example, Kevin Spacey, Casey Affleck, Woody Allen, Mel Gibson, and James Franco, have all done much worse things than slap someone for insulting their partner, and are still members. Harvey Weinstein and Roman Polanski were expelled, but only after pretty intense public pressure, and Polanski even got a standing ovation during a ceremony after his behavior was made public.

    13 votes
    1. JXM
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      This is what's crazy to me. Will Smith should receive some sort of reprimand but what kind of message does it send that he is banned for ten years for slapping someone when serial rapists are...

      This is what's crazy to me. Will Smith should receive some sort of reprimand but what kind of message does it send that he is banned for ten years for slapping someone when serial rapists are willingly accepted?

      Polanski literally couldn't attend the ceremony when he won best picture because if he steps on U.S. soil, he'll be arrested immediately for sexual assault.

      14 votes
    2. [3]
      moocow1452
      Link Parent
      None of the people listed above derailed the big event and took the narrative of the night away from the Academy.

      None of the people listed above derailed the big event and took the narrative of the night away from the Academy.

      3 votes
      1. [2]
        mtset
        Link Parent
        "We only care if you make us look bad" isn't exactly a good policy for the self-proclaimed arbiters of entertainment to hold. Like, I understand why they did this, but that doesn't mean it's good.

        "We only care if you make us look bad" isn't exactly a good policy for the self-proclaimed arbiters of entertainment to hold. Like, I understand why they did this, but that doesn't mean it's good.

        17 votes
        1. teaearlgraycold
          Link Parent
          Like Jim Carrey said - “We’re not the cool club anymore”

          Like Jim Carrey said - “We’re not the cool club anymore”

          4 votes
  2. river
    Link
    First let me say it was entirely his own choice to do this, the blame rests 100% on him. Now I want to point out that it has become increasingly clear that he is in an abusive relationship. I...

    First let me say it was entirely his own choice to do this, the blame rests 100% on him.

    Now I want to point out that it has become increasingly clear that he is in an abusive relationship. I believe that the reason he assaulted someone is because he has been wound up day after day after day for years by an abusive partner. and is basically living on the edge of breaking point. Hopefully this will be a wake up call for him to realize he can separate himself from negative people.

    3 votes
  3. [5]
    MimicSquid
    Link
    That's really not very impressive as far as consequences go. He can still come to the event, still win Oscars, keeps what he's gotten...

    [The ban] means he will be unable to vote for future Oscars [winners].

    ...

    But the standards of conduct laid out by the film academy contained various disciplinary options for Smith, such as excluding him from future Oscars ceremonies, revoking his eligibility for awards or taking back his newly won Oscar.

    That's really not very impressive as far as consequences go. He can still come to the event, still win Oscars, keeps what he's gotten...

    2 votes
    1. [4]
      Comment deleted by author
      Link Parent
      1. culturedleftfoot
        Link Parent
        It's pretty much only a "nothingburger" because Chris Rock showed very admirable restraint, being cognizant of the circumstances. That would have been an instant brawl on the street, and then...

        It's pretty much only a "nothingburger" because Chris Rock showed very admirable restraint, being cognizant of the circumstances. That would have been an instant brawl on the street, and then there's no telling how far either of them and/or their entourage would be willing to take it in the moment. Besides that, there's a lot to consider in terms of the both Will's reaction, the non-reaction of everyone else present, how differently things might have played out if the presenter making the joke had been female, white, lgbt, etc.

        I don't care for the pearl-clutching in the news cycle myself but it's not as unremarkable as you make it sound either.

        5 votes
      2. [2]
        MimicSquid
        Link Parent
        Chris Rock had the right to choose to not press charges, but he wasn't the only party wronged, as the Oscars had their event disrupted. And the Oscars have essentially said that disrupting the...

        Chris Rock had the right to choose to not press charges, but he wasn't the only party wronged, as the Oscars had their event disrupted. And the Oscars have essentially said that disrupting the show with violence against someone hired to perform isn't something that needs more than a slap on the wrist, so to speak.

        2 votes
        1. AugustusFerdinand
          Link Parent
          Nope. Doesn't work that way.

          Chris Rock had the right to choose to not press charges,

          Nope. Doesn't work that way.

          4 votes
    2. cfabbro
      Link Parent
      That sentence you misquoted is only about the consequences of his resignation, not his ban. It even says so in the portion you replaced with [The ban]. And did you miss the first sentence of the...

      That sentence you misquoted is only about the consequences of his resignation, not his ban. It even says so in the portion you replaced with [The ban].

      His resignation means he will be unable to vote for future Oscars voters.

      And did you miss the first sentence of the article?

      Will Smith has been banned from the Oscars gala and other Academy events for 10 years after the US actor slapped comic Chris Rock at the Oscars.

      So, no. He actually can't attend the events anymore.

      12 votes