Veteran actor Harry Lennix breaks out The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences asked Will Smith for a “toothless fine” and urged the actor to return the Oscar.
The academy banned Smith from attending an Oscars ceremony for attacking comedian Chris Rock at an awards ceremony last month. Smith also dropped out of academia.
Lennix, an academy member who has appeared in series including “Billion” and “Blacklist” as well as the “Matrix” film franchise, wrote a post published Saturday, Variety condemned Smith’s actions and described the penalty as “an extended suspension for bullying on the pitch”.
He said the return of the Oscars “restores the dignity of the award.”
Smith should send his Gold Cup to the Academy and tell the public something like :, ‘”he wrote.
He refuted Smith’s comments after the attack, which included a tearful statement “I am burdened with what God calls me to do and be in this world” in his acceptance speech after winning the award for best. actor for the role of “King Richard”.
“I am deeply ashamed of his reference to the influence of higher powers,” Lennix wrote, “and the same shocking academic decision not to separate Smith from the ceremony.”
Lennix also criticized Oscar attendees for standing up and applauding Smith after receiving the Oscar, less than an hour after rocking the stage.
“Smith’s brutality took away prestige all night,” Lennix said. “This was confirmed when the stunned Oscar nominees applauded with someone insulting them in front of them.”
Lenix’s opinion was controversial and caused a strong reaction from some commentators.
Variety Award Editor-in-Chief Clayton Davis said he strongly disagreed with this view, pointing out that Another Hollywood elite committed heinous crimes and kept the rewards.
I mean I definitely don’t agree with this notion.
Will Smith did not cause “shame” to the statue, and otherwise the assumption that convicted rapists were given the same statue after pleading guilty is an exercise in brutal BAD TAKES. https://t.co/gunJKYWQQZ
– Clayton Davis – Stay with ???????? (@ByClaytonDavis) April 9, 2022
Roman Polanski, director of “Chinatown” and “Rosemary’s Baby”. Admitted guilty in 1977 of illegal intercourse with a minor. He received a Director Oscar for his 2002 drama “The Pianist”. He was expelled from the Academy in 2018.
Former producer Harvey Weinstein, a convicted rapist, was also expelled from academia but was not denied his 1999 Academy Award for Best Picture for “Shakespeare in Love.”
Some critics also noted that last year Lennix defended director Jos Wedon after being accused of abusing power and creating a toxic work environment.
Smith took to the stage and hit Rock for joking that his wife Jada Pinkett Smith shaved his head, which he described as an athlete battling alopecia.
Source: Huffpost