Oscars Voters Say They Won’t Support Will Smith Over ‘Liberation’ Awards

Actor Will Smith is already receiving a cold reception from Oscar voters for his role in the much-anticipated ‘Emancipation’.

Many members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences say they would never support him again The infamous slap of Chris Rocksaid Tuesday’s report.

Apple plans to release a Smith-led Civil War drama on its streaming service in December — less than a year after Smith stormed the stage to confront a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

The release window makes “Emancipation” eligible for consideration in the current award season.

But many Academy Awards voters polled The Hollywood Reporter They said they were concerned about supporting Smith for the “Best Actor” nod or any other awards after the incident.

Apple is slated to release “Emancipation” in December.
AP

“Will I vote for Smith? NO F – KING WAY,” Lawrence David Foldes, a member of the Academy Voters Producers Branch, told the outlet.

“His outrageous, shameful violent outbursts and pathetic diatribes witnessed by millions – and his blatant disrespect for the Academy – should prevent him from any consideration and reward from AMPAS members for life,” Fuldes added.

Heavy sigh. “There’s no chance I’ll vote for him,” an unnamed member of the CEO branch said sarcastically of Smith.

“Will I vote for Will Smith? Right after I vote for Trump,” added a member of the Marketing/Public Relations branch.

Another voter put his position more simply.

“F-k his. So, no,” said an anonymous member of the Marketing/PR voting branch.

The Post has contacted Apple for comment.

Apple faced a major dilemma in how to handle the release of “Emancipation’s” after paying $120 million for the film’s distribution rights. The tech giant’s executives have reportedly considered the drama a sure-fire contender for the Oscars ahead of The Slap.

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will Smith
Will Smith resigned from the academy after the slapping incident.
Getty Images

Recently, last month, Apple was in internal discussions about whether to release the movie this year or Postponed until 2023 Due to concerns that Smith’s involvement could tarnish the company’s reputation with the Academy.

Smith slapped Rock after he made a joke about Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. Pinkett Smith has been open about her struggle with hair loss.

Smith won the Best Actor Oscar for his work in “King Richard” minutes after the slap. He later apologized for his actions and resigned from the academy. In addition, he was banned from attending any of the Academy’s events for the next ten years.

will Smith
Will Smith apologized for the slapping incident.

Some Academy Awards voters were more benevolent in their statements toward Smith, noting that the film’s production included several crew members who deserved credit.

“Stop releasing a movie because its star did something offensive that hurt the entire production and the hundreds of people who worked on it,” said one voter in the Sound branch. “Don’t watch if you’re offended. Don’t vote for Smith if you’re offended. That’s everyone’s right.”

Meanwhile, others said that Apple had to discontinue the film entirely after the Smith incident.

Another voter said, “Smith has so embarrassed the Academy and his peers and people of color with this reckless behavior that I would not vote for him no matter what, and Apple should not put the film up for the Academy or any other consideration.”

“Liberation” received applause of audience members during a special presentation hosted by the NAACP in October. The film stars Smith as a runaway slave who later joins the Union Army and fights again against his persecutors.

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“Emancipation” will hit theaters on December 2 and be available to stream a week later on December 9.

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