As the 2026 Oscars approach, talk has resurfaced about the Academy's “blacklist.”

Despite the glitz and glamour, some figures are no longer welcome—whether due to shocking behavior, legal issues, or controversial stances.

Here’s a look at six prominent personalities currently banned from attending the Oscars or participating in Academy events:

Will Smith

Will Smith’s ban remains the most memorable in recent memory. After the infamous “slap” incident involving Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, the Academy barred Smith from attending the ceremony or any affiliated events for ten years. He is banned until 2032, although he is still eligible for nominations, he cannot accept any award in person.

The incident followed Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s sarcastic remark about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who suffers from alopecia. Days later, the Academy’s board imposed the ban.

Harvey Weinstein

Once known as the “King of the Oscars,” producer Harvey Weinstein is now completely ostracized. Following the #MeToo scandals in 2017, the Academy not only barred him from attending, but also expelled him from membership after he was found to have violated ethical standards and convicted of assault against women.

In 2020, he was sentenced to 23 years in prison for assault, though the sentence was later overturned, and additional convictions in other cases followed.

Bill Cosby

In 2018, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expelled comedian Bill Cosby under its updated conduct standards to uphold “respect and human dignity.” Cosby had been convicted of assault, making him unwelcome in Hollywood circles.

He was accused of drugging and assaulting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand and sentenced to 3–10 years in prison. However, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court overturned the conviction in 2021, leading to his release.

Roman Polanski

Oscar-winning director Roman Polanski, known for The Pianist, was expelled in 2018. Polanski, who had evaded U.S. justice for decades over a 1977 assault case involving a minor, is no longer a member of the Academy and is barred from participating in its events.

Despite winning Best Director in 2003, he did not attend the ceremony for fear of arrest.

Carmine Caridi

Carmine Caridi made history as the first person expelled from the Academy in 2004, despite not being a household name. The actor, known for The Godfather Part II, committed a serious technical violation by sending Academy-only screeners to a friend, who leaked them online. The Academy deemed this a breach of security and intellectual property.

Adam Kimmel

Cinematographer Adam Kimmel, known for films such as Capote, was expelled in 2021 after revelations about his criminal record involving offenses against minors, which the Academy considered a severe violation of its conduct rules.