Notable Figures Barred from the Oscars: A Look at Disciplinary Actions
Overview of the 98th Academy Awards
The 98th Academy Awards is currently underway, honoring outstanding achievements in cinema worldwide. While many of Hollywood's elite gather for this prestigious event, several notable individuals are conspicuously absent from the guest list. Over the years, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has taken disciplinary measures against certain members for breaching its code of conduct, which has included expulsion or bans from Academy events. Presently, six prominent figures from the entertainment sector have been prohibited from attending the Oscars for various infractions, including actors, directors, and other industry professionals whose actions prompted the Academy to take significant steps. Below is a summary of these six individuals who have faced such disciplinary actions.
Carmine Caridi
Carmine Caridi
In 2004, actor Carmine Caridi made history as the first individual to be expelled from the Academy. Known for his role in The Godfather series, Caridi was removed after he was found distributing Oscar screeners. A member of the Academy since 1982, he regularly received advance screeners from studios. Reports indicate that he lent these tapes to Russell Sprague, who had assisted him in repairing his VCR. Sprague subsequently copied the films and returned them to Caridi, leading to the circulation of pirated versions. This scheme was uncovered by the FBI, resulting in the Academy's Board of Governors voting for Caridi's expulsion.
Harvey Weinstein
Harvey Weinstein
In 2017, film producer Harvey Weinstein was expelled from the Academy following numerous allegations of sexual harassment and assault, which ignited the global #MeToo movement. Over 80 women came forward with accusations against him, leading the Academy’s Board of Governors to take action against him.
Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby
Comedian and actor Bill Cosby faced expulsion from the Academy in 2018, shortly after his conviction for sexual assault. He was found guilty of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand in 2004. Following his conviction, the Academy voted to remove him, citing the need for members to uphold values of respect and dignity.
Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski
Filmmaker Roman Polanski, who won an Oscar for The Pianist, was expelled from the Academy in 2018 alongside Cosby. In 1977, Polanski pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old girl after administering alcohol and drugs. Although he served a brief jail sentence as part of a plea deal, he fled the U.S. before completing his sentence and has lived in Europe for decades. Despite continuing his filmmaking career abroad, the Academy ultimately decided that his conviction breached its ethical standards, leading to his membership revocation.
Adam Kimmel
Adam Kimmel
Cinematographer Adam Kimmel was expelled from the Academy in 2021 after revelations about his past as a registered sex offender came to light.
Will Smith
Will Smith
During the 2022 Academy Awards, Will Smith shocked audiences by slapping comedian Chris Rock after Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. This incident became one of the most controversial moments in Oscar history. Shortly thereafter, the Academy’s Board of Governors announced that Smith would be banned from attending any Academy events, including the Oscars, for a decade starting in April 2022. The Academy's disciplinary process is guided by its Standards of Conduct, which gained public attention following the incident involving Smith.