​Celebrities who have been banned from the Oscars: Will Smith, Richard Gere, and more​

Ever since its inception in 1929, the Oscars, aka the Academy Awards, have been known for celebrating cinema. But the decades-old award ceremony has often had moments that sent shock waves among cinema lovers. While we all look forward to the Oscars for memorable speeches and noteworthy wins, over the years, Hollywood's biggest night has had controversies that have made jaws drop wide.

Now, as we gear up for the 98th Oscars, let us look back on the artists who have been found guilty of misconduct and barred from attending the ceremony over the years.

Widely known for playing mobster Carmine Rosato in ‘The Godfather 2,’ Caridi was the first actor to be expelled from the Oscars. Caridi was initially accused of leaking Oscar screeners of several movies, which were only meant for the jury. The leaked titles included ‘The Last Samurai’, ‘Mystic River’, ‘Big Fish’, ‘Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World’, and ‘Something’s Gotta Give.’ In an interview with Hollywood Reporter, Caridi admitted that he sent the screeners to a man named Russell Spargue, who repaired his broken VCR.

“I would send them to him before I even looked at them,” Caridi told The Hollywood Reporter in February 2017. “And then he would copy them and send them back.”

The FBI was given the charge to investigate the matter, which later found the leaks had been happening for nearly three years. Before this, Caridi had also faced lawsuits from entertainment stalwarts like Columbia Pictures and Warner Bros.

While Caridi’s ban from the Oscars may be technically documented as the first ever ban, Gere was banned in 1993 even though his exile was restricted. ‘The Pretty Woman’ actor was sentenced to a 20-year ban from the Academy in the early 1990s. It all happened because the actor veered off-script while presenting the award for Best Art Direction to condemn the Chinese Communist Party for the human rights violations occurring in Tibet. However, the ban was not forever. The "Chicago" actor returned to the Oscars in 2003 when the musical won the Best Picture Award. The Academy even later pardoned Gere and asked him to reprise his role as presenter in 2013.

Will Smith’s ban from the Oscars came as a shock to many of his fans. During the 2022 Oscars, Chris Rock took the stage to present the award for Best Documentary. While addressing the crowd, Rock joked about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, referencing her shaved head by saying, “Jada, I love ya. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see ya.”

Will Smith got triggered by the comment and walked onto the stage and slapped Rock. Smith even shouted and threatened Rock by saying, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f---ing mouth.” In April 2022, the organization reviewed the incident and issued a statement saying that Smith was barred from attending Oscar events for 10 years. Smith’s team later issued a statement saying that he accepted the board's decision and also issued an apology via his social media handles for Rock.

As revealed by Variety, cinematographer Adam Kimmel was expelled from the Academy after being found guilty of being a repeated sex offender. In November 2020, he had been duly arrested and convicted for rape and assault of minors. The Academy Awards retaliated by removing him in March 2021. The board released an official statement stating that it would review the situation "in accordance with its bylaws" and would "continue to examine its member selection process regularly to ensure that it accurately reflects the Academy values.”

Roman Polanski is one of the renowned veteran names to be debarred from the Oscars. As stated by the BBC, the director was found guilty of violating the sexual consent of a minor. Following the famous Me Too Movement in 2018, the Academy Awards revised its standards of conduct and expelled Polanski in 2018. The director, who previously won the Oscar for his film ‘The Pianist’ in 2003, was found guilty of abusing a 13-year old. Though Polanski pleaded for an excuse, he spent 42 days in jail, after which he absconded to the United States and has been living the life of a fugitive since then.

Following his sexual assault accusations, actor Bill Cosby was expelled from the Oscars in 2018. As revealed by People Magazine, the Academy bench took this action to uphold ethical standards of conduct. In April, the veteran comedian was found to be drugging and sexually harassing a university employee. After being found guilty of sexual assault, the board members voted to remove him from his membership. Moreover, he was also banned from participating in the activities concerning the Oscars. Even post his release in 2021, the Oscars did not reinstate his participation and membership.

After multiple allegations of sexual misconduct by 80 women, film producer Harvey Weinstein was expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 2017. The New York Times' investigative reports stated that Weinstein was guilty. A few days after the stories were released, the board members voted in the majority to remove Weinstein from the ceremony. In June 2025, he was proven guilty of conducting criminal sexual acts, which he sought to appeal, but was denied in January 2026. As of March 2026, Harvey Weinstein is in jail, specifically held at Rikers Island in New York.