Will Smith joined the likes of Harvey Weinstein and Roman Polansky when he left the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences this week as a working actor.
This was a membership he earned not by application, but rather by being nominated for an award, according to its website. A member could also be nominated by two other academy members. Smith was nominated twice before for his roles in Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness.
By giving up his membership, Smith will no longer enjoy early screenings for movies with the academy, nor will he be able to vote for award nominations.
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“Most categories are nominated by the members of the corresponding branch — actors nominate actors, film editors nominate film editors, etc,” its website reads. “All voting members are eligible to select the Best Picture nominees.”
There is only one example of previous winners having their Oscars rescinded. Young Americans lost its Oscar in 1969 because it was actually released in 1967, which made it ineligible. Weinstein and Polansky both continue to have their Oscars.
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The academy’s board of governors is scheduled to meet on April 18 to address the matter despite Smith having received a disciplinary hearing notice. The board reviews its members annually.
