Will Smith Is Begging the Academy to End His 10-Year Oscar Ban

Will Smith hits Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 27, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY SEARCH “GLOBAL POY” FOR THIS STORY. SEARCH “REUTERS POY” FOR ALL BEST OF 2022 PACKAGES.

The Celebrity Beat…

Will Smith still has eight years to go before his 10-year Oscar ban for slapping Chris Rock is over.  But he’s trying to get his sentence commuted early.

“In Touch” claims that he’s “begging” the Academy to lift the ban, in part because he APOLOGIZED.  But also because the success of “Bad Boys: Ride or Die” has proven he can still be a huge movie star.

But there are two big obstacles standing in his way.  First, not all the members of the Academy have forgiven Will, and some still think he should have been ARRESTED for what he did.

Second, Chris Rock hasn’t forgiven him.  The source says, quote, “The moment everybody is waiting for is for Chris and Will to publicly and genuinely bury the hatchet.  That’s going to give the Academy the confidence to revisit their decision.”

SOURCE: In Touch