Piers Morgan has criticised the Oscars after the prestigious academy announced their decision to ban Will Smith from the awards ceremony for the next ten years after the star slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage.
The former Good Morning Britain star, 57, blasted the Hollywood Academy Awards online after they barred the established actor from attending their events despite his resignation earlier this month.
As he shared the news of the distinguished company’s decision following the shocking actions at the 94th awards ceremony, the dad-of-four slammed the company for not taking the same stance with convicted sex offender Roman Polanski.
The Board of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science – which organises the Oscars – revealed their decision after meeting to discuss the possible sanctions against the star almost two weeks after his outburst on stage.
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
This means the King Richard actor has given up his voting rights in addition to his membership to the Academy, as he added he would accept the consequences of his actions.
Now, Piers has slammed the decision online as he shared his thoughts with his 7.9million followers on Twitter.
He wrote: “BREAKING: Will Smith banned by the Hollywood Academy 12 days after he slapped Chris Rock.
“It took the same Academy 40 years to ban Roman Polanski after he was convicted of raping a child.”
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The star referenced the 88-year-old film director’s decision to flee the US while awaiting his final sentencing after he pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor back in 1978.
The director was arrested in Switzerland in 2009 on a warrant for his 1977 crime, where he drugged and raped 13-year-old girl.
Piers previously addressed the incident in his latest column in The Sun where he defended Will as he hit back at the Oscars for their “nauseating hypocrisy.”
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
He wrote: “Astonishingly, Polanski remained a member of the Academy until 2008, when public pressure sparked by the #MeToo campaign finally forced Hollywood to pretend it had morals.
“Until then, the board of governors – many of whom are now expressing their horror at The Slap – saw no reason to remove him from its membership which is hardly surprising when you learn that among their number is Whoopi Goldberg who said of Polanski’s conviction: ‘I know it wasn’t rape-rape. It was something else’.”
He continued: “So, spare me Hollywood’s sudden moral seizure over Will Smith slapping a guy for mocking his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
