7 Celebs Who Were Kicked Out of the Oscars – Here's Why

The Oscars are known for glitz, glamor, and unforgettable moments — but not every celebrity has enjoyed a smooth relationship with the prestigious event. Some celebrities have found themselves at the center of controversy, making headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Each year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gathers Hollywood's biggest names, and the 97th Academy Awards was no exception.

Held on March 2, 2025, at the Dolby Theatre, the ceremony honored 2024's films and celebrated the year's top performances and storytelling.

But not every star has been welcomed at the Oscars. Over the years, several high-profile celebrities have been banned or expelled — some for breaking ethical rules and others for controversial behavior during the show.

From political speeches to criminal cases, here are seven celebrities who were kicked out — and why.

Richard Gere

Richard Gere's unexpected ban from the Oscars traces back to the 65th Annual Academy Awards on March 29, 1993.

Richard was scheduled to present the award for Best Art Direction at the event, which honored films released in 1992, including "Unforgiven," which won Best Picture that year. Richard's task was simple — read from the teleprompter to introduce the nominees.

The script prepared for him referenced renowned artists like Rubens, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Monet, Da Vinci, and Degas, comparing their creative legacy to the work of modern-day art directors.

The speech was meant to celebrate the talent and diplomacy required in art direction. However, Richard chose not to follow the script.

Instead, he used his time on stage to make a direct human rights appeal concerning China and Tibet. Richard addressed the global audience, acknowledging the estimated one billion viewers watching live.

He wondered aloud if Deng Xiaoping, the Chinese leader at the time, was watching the broadcast with his family.

Richard called attention to China's human rights violations, particularly its treatment of Tibet, and urged viewers to send love, truth, and sanity to Beijing, hoping for a peaceful resolution and Tibetan independence.

This unscripted statement caught the Academy off guard. While the Academy's press office later denied implementing any formal ban, stating, "We don't ban presenters. There's no such thing as a ban," Richard was noticeably absent from presenting duties at the Oscars for over two decades.

In April 2013, Richard spoke to HuffPost UK about his return to the Oscars after his long absence. Reflecting on the situation, he said, "Apparently, I've been rehabilitated. It seems if you stay around long enough, they forget they've banned you."

Richard's Oscars moment remains one of the most politically charged speeches in the show's history, marking him as one of the few celebrities to be unofficially blacklisted from the prestigious event.

Carmine Caridi

The actor, best known for his roles in "The Godfather" films, became the first to be expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

His removal stemmed from a high-profile screener piracy case that unfolded in 2004. Before that, Carmine's history with the Academy began on a positive note.

After building a steady career in films like "The Gambler" and "Prince of the City," Carmine was invited to join the Academy's acting branch in 1982.

As a member, he received award season screeners — advance copies of films sent to voters for consideration. Trouble started when Carmine met Russell Sprague, a Chicago resident introduced to him by fellow "Godfather" actor Nicky Blair.

Russell initially helped Caridi fix his VCR, and the two became friends. Carmine admitted to sharing screeners with Russell, allowing him to copy films and return them.

Carmine claimed he also shared screeners with others who couldn't afford to see the films. However, in early 2004, the Academy discovered that some of Carmine's screeners had appeared online.

He immediately confronted Russell, who urged him to avoid mentioning names. Carmine refused to protect Russell, especially after the FBI became involved.

When called to their Los Angeles office, Carmine was offered immunity in exchange for identifying Russell.

On February 3, 2004, the Academy's board of governors voted unanimously to expel Carmine. Reflecting on the moment, he recalled, "They wrote me a letter: 'You're finished.'"

His expulsion made headlines, with Carmine noting he was featured on television news for 12 consecutive days.

Following his expulsion, Columbia Pictures and Warner Bros. took legal action against Carmine for his role in distributing screeners of films like "Big Fish," "Something's Gotta Give," "The Last Samurai," and "Mystic River."

A U.S. District Judge ordered him to pay $300,000 to each studio, along with attorney fees. He admitted, "I knew I was never gonna pay a dime because I didn't have it."

Despite his long career in Hollywood, Carmine's legacy became tied to his historic expulsion, making him a cautionary tale about screener piracy and the consequences of violating Academy rules.

Bill Cosby

On May 1, 2018, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Board of Governors voted to expel Bill Cosby from its membership.

The decision came shortly after Bill, a once-celebrated actor and comedian, was found guilty of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, an employee at Temple University at the time, in 2004.

The Academy released a statement confirming the expulsion and explaining that the vote was carried out per the organization's Standards of Conduct.

The statement emphasized the importance of ethical behavior and urged all members to uphold the Academy's values of respect for human dignity.

Bill, who was 80 years old then, faced three charges linked to the assault, which took place at his home in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. Each charge carried a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years.

Beyond this case, more than 60 women had accused Bill of similar offenses spanning decades. He, however, denied all allegations.

The expulsion made Bill one of the few individuals removed from the Academy. It also emphasized the Academy's increased focus on holding its members accountable for serious violations of ethical standards.

In removing Bill, the Academy sent a clear message that actions violating the dignity and safety of others would not be tolerated within its ranks, regardless of an individual's celebrity status or career achievements.

Adam Kimmel

In March 2021, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences officially expelled cinematographer Adam Kimmel after reports highlighted his criminal record and history as a registered sex offender.

He had been a member of the Academy since 2007, despite having pleaded guilty to rape in the third degree in 2004 — three years before his invitation to join the organization.

The decision to remove him followed a Variety investigation published in November 2020. That story exposed the fact that the noted cinematographer with credits in films such as "Capote" and "Beautiful Girls," had maintained Academy membership without disclosing his past.

The Academy did not immediately comment after removing Adam, but a source confirmed to Variety that he was no longer a member.

His 2003 arrest in New York City stemmed from a sexual relationship with a minor that summer. He pleaded guilty the following year and was sentenced to community service, probation, and placement on the sex offender registry.

The cinematographer later called the charges "consensual sex with someone under the legal age of consent." He was 43 years old, while the girl involved was 15 when this happened. Adam's legal troubles did not end there. In 2010, he was arrested again after initiating contact with another 15-year-old girl.

This time, he faced charges, including failing to register as a sex offender, which ultimately led to a Class D felony conviction. This conviction cost Adam his job as cinematographer on the film "Moneyball."

The Academy's decision to expel him came amid growing scrutiny over its membership standards, especially in the wake of the #MeToo movement.

In 2018, the Academy established its first code of conduct, emphasizing the importance of ethical behavior among its members.

When Adam's case surfaced, the Academy stated, "The Academy has a stated policy against abusive and indecent behavior, and takes all matters involving harassment, assault, or misconduct very seriously."

His expulsion highlighted a lack of formal vetting procedures during membership selection, where the process relied heavily on an honor system.

His removal placed him on the short list of individuals expelled from the Academy, further reinforcing their evolving stance on accountability and ethical conduct.

Will Smith

On April 8, 2022, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' board of governors officially banned Will Smith from attending the Oscars and all Academy events for 10 years.

The decision followed his onstage altercation with Chris Rock during the March 27, 2022 Oscars ceremony.

The incident occurred after Rock joked about Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head, comparing her to the lead character in "G.I. Jane."

Will, visibly upset, walked onstage and struck Rock across the face. Moments later, he returned to his seat and shouted at Chris, demanding he keep Jada's name out of his mouth.

In a letter sent to Academy members, Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson explained the decision.

They wrote, "For a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards."

The letter also stated the action was part of a larger effort to protect the safety of performers and guests and to restore trust in the organization.

Will, who won Best Actor that night for his performance in "King Richard," said, "I accept and respect the Academy's decision."

Despite the ban, Will remains eligible to receive future nominations and win Oscars. The Academy's Standards of Conduct do not directly affect award eligibility, meaning Smith's work can still be considered by voters.

Speaking to People, film expert Dave Karger noted at the time that while the ban is not a lifetime expulsion, it is still a significant penalty. He added, "I highly doubt he will hear his name called as a nominee in the near future."

Following the Academy's announcement, public reaction was divided. Several users commented on the decision.

One user wrote, "Its very wrong what he did, but ten years really, it's a little bit too much especially when he said sorry already to everyone [sic]."

Another user said, "I'm sorry, this is ridiculous. 10 years!?" One more commented, "This is excessive." Another added, "Shame on the academy [sic]."

The 10-year ban placed Will among the most high-profile figures disciplined by the Academy is a warning about personal conduct at its prestigious events.

Harvey Weinstein

On October 14, 2017, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Board of Governors voted to immediately expel Harvey Weinstein from its membership.

The decision came after multiple allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against the once-powerful Hollywood producer.

The Academy called a special meeting to address the situation, and the vote to expel Harvey far exceeded the required two-thirds majority.

In a statement, the Academy explained, "We do so not simply to separate ourselves from someone who does not merit the respect of his colleagues but also to send a message that the era of willful ignorance and shameful complicity in sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment in our industry is over."

The Academy's removal of Harvey followed two high-profile investigations: one published by The New York Times on October 5, 2017, and another by The New Yorker shortly after.

Both reports detailed decades of allegations from numerous women accusing Weinstein of sexual harassment, assault, and predatory behavior.

In an official statement, the Academy condemned Harvey's behavior, calling it "repugnant, abhorrent, and antithetical to the high standards of the Academy and the creative community it represents."

The organization also reaffirmed its commitment to establishing and upholding ethical standards for all members.

Harvey's expulsion from the Academy came alongside mounting professional and personal consequences. He was fired from his own company, The Weinstein Company, and his wife, fashion designer Georgina Chapman, announced her separation from him.

He also faced international backlash as the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) suspended his membership, labeling his reported behavior "completely unacceptable."

In addition, the French government announced plans to revoke his Légion d'Honneur, France's highest civilian honor, which Harvey received in 2012 following the success of The Artist.

Despite the allegations, a spokesperson for Harvey denied any non-consensual encounters. Speaking briefly to the media outside his daughter's home in Los Angeles in October 2017, he admitted he was "not doing okay" and hoped for a "second chance."

Roman Polanski

On May 1, 2018, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Board of Governors voted to expel Roman Polanski from its membership.

This decision came more than 40 years after his 1977 conviction for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, a case that has continued to follow him throughout his career.

In March 1977, Roman was arrested and charged after an encounter with then-13-year-old Samantha Gailey (now Samantha Geimer). As part of a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty and spent 42 days in jail undergoing psychiatric evaluation.

However, in 1978, fearing the judge would reject the plea deal and impose a harsher sentence, Roman fled the United States and has remained a fugitive ever since.

Over the decades, his legal team made several unsuccessful attempts to resolve the case, including appeals from Samantha herself asking the court to end the matter.

In 2017, a California judge rejected the latest request, allowing the case to proceed. Despite his legal troubles, Roman continued to work in the film industry and even received the Best Director Oscar in 2003 for "The Pianist."

His expulsion placed him among a short list of individuals removed from the Academy, highlighting the organization's shift toward accountability for personal conduct, regardless of career achievements.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has taken action over the years to protect its reputation by removing members who violated its ethical standards.

From unscripted political speeches to criminal convictions, these seven celebrities were expelled or barred for reasons ranging from policy breaches to serious legal offenses.

Their cases reflect the evolving expectations placed on Academy members and the wider cultural shifts within Hollywood itself.