Will Smith receives 10 year ban from Oscars over Chris Rock slap

He won't be allowed to attend in person or virtually.

Will Smith has been banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) for slapping Chris Rock. Though Smith resigned from the Academy days after the incident, which occurred at the most recent Oscar ceremony, its board met on Friday to discuss how to respond to the actor's actions. It decided that Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs in person or virtually for 10 years. This includes but is not limited to the Oscars. AMPAS President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson announced the decision in a letter, during which they also apologised for "not adequately" addressing Smith's actions during the ceremony. The pair also praised Rock for "maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances". "The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year," the letter reads. "However, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behavior we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage. "During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. For this, we are sorry. "This was an opportunity for us to set an example for our guests, viewers and our Academy family around the world, and we fell short — unprepared for the unprecedented. "This action we are taking today in response to Will Smith’s behavior is a step toward a larger goal of protecting the safety of our performers and guests and restoring trust in the Academy. "We also hope this can begin a time of healing and restoration for all involved and impacted."