Oscars 2023: Will Smith, Richard Gere & Others; A Look At Celebs Banned From Attending The Academy Awards

Oscars 2023: The 95th Academy Awards is just around the corner. One of the biggest events in Hollywood, the Oscars 2023, will be held at the Dolby Theater. The glamorous night will bring together the most prominent faces in the entertainment industry, however, there are some well-known celebs who have been barred from attending the prestigious ceremony. From 2022's infamous slap gate incident that led to a ban for Will Smith to Richard Gere's ban following his onstage remarks on China, take a glance at the celebrities who have courted controversy and have been banned by the Academy:

Will Smith

The Men In Black fame star has been banned from attending the Academy awards for the next 10 years. As the Oscar was airing, Will smacked comedian Chris Rock, after he joked about the actor's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Richard Gere

The American actor was handed a whopping two-decade ban in 1993. The An Officer and a Gentleman star denounced the Chinese government onstage at the Oscars. He remarked, "I wonder if Deng Xiaoping is watching this right now with his children and his grandchildren and the knowledge that what a horrendous human rights situation there is in China. Not only towards their own people but towards Tibet as well," before presenting the Oscar for Art Direction.

Harvey Weinstein

Harvey Weinstein was permanently banned in 2017 in the wake of #MeeToo allegations. The Academy called its actions "repugnant, abhorrent, and antithetical to the high standards of the Academy and the creative community it represents."

Roman Polanski

Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski was expelled from the Academy in 2018, more than 40 years after the incident.

Bill Cosby

Actor and comedian Bill Cosby was banned from the Oscars on the accusation of assaulting a woman. The announcement of his ban came on the same day as Polanski.