Veteran actor Harry Lennix slammed the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences for what he referred to as its “toothless penalty” towards Will Smith and urged the actor to return his Oscar.
The academy banned Smith from attending the Oscars for the subsequent decade over his assault of comic Chris Rock onstage on the awards present final month. Smith additionally resigned from the academy.
Lennix, a member of the academy who has appeared in collection together with “Billions” and “The Blacklist” in addition to the “Matrix” movie franchise, wrote an op-ed published by Selection on Saturday condemning Smith’s actions and describing the penalty as “little greater than an prolonged trip for a playground bully.”
He stated returning the Oscar would “restore the award’s honor.”
“Smith must express-mail his golden trophy again to the Academy and publicly state one thing to the impact of: ‘Out of respect for the 94 years of honor conferred upon this award, I don’t in good conscience really feel worthy of being its custodian,’” he wrote.
He took problem with Smith’s feedback within the aftermath of the assault, which included a tearful comment about being “overwhelmed by what God is asking on me to do and be on this world” throughout his acceptance speech after successful Greatest Actor for his efficiency in “King Richard.”
“Probably the most galling to me was his reference to the affect of a better energy” Lennix wrote, “and the Academy’s equally surprising determination to not eject Smith from the ceremony.”
Lennix additionally criticized the Oscars attendees who stood and applauded Smith after he acquired his Oscar, lower than an hour after he had slapped Rock onstage.
“Smith’s brutality stripped your complete night of its status,” Lennix stated. “That was confirmed when shocked Oscar attendees gave a standing ovation to somebody who’d simply dedicated an assault in entrance of their eyes.”
Lennix’s take proved controversial, evoking heated reactions from some commentators.
Selection senior awards editor Clayton Davis stated he vehemently disagreed with the notion, noting that other Hollywood elites have dedicated horrific crimes and stored their awards.
Roman Polanski, director of “Chinatown” and “Rosemary’s Child,” pleaded guilty in 1977 to illegal intercourse with a minor. He went on to win the director Oscar for the 2002 drama “The Pianist.” He was expelled from the academy in 2018.
Former producer Harvey Weinstein, a convicted rapist, was additionally expelled from the academy however has not been stripped of his 1999 Greatest Image Oscar for “Shakespeare in Love.”
A number of critics additionally famous that final 12 months, Lennix defended director Joss Whedon after he was accused of abusing his energy and making a poisonous work setting.
Smith walked onstage and hit Rock for making a joke about his spouse Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, which she sports activities on account of her struggles with alopecia.
Learn the op-ed in Variety.
