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Will Smith Congratulates Jordan Amidst Oscars Ban
16 Mar
Summary
- Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor at the 2026 Oscars.
- Will Smith congratulated Jordan via Instagram from his ban.
- Jordan acknowledged Smith and other Black actors in his speech.
Michael B. Jordan secured the Best Actor award at the 2026 Oscars, dedicating his win to the Black actors who preceded him, notably Will Smith. This recognition came despite Smith's 10-year ban from Academy events, imposed in April 2022 after the incident with Chris Rock. Smith, still eligible to keep his own Oscar from that year, publicly congratulated Jordan on Instagram.
Jordan's acceptance speech highlighted the legacy of actors like Sidney Poitier and Denzel Washington. His win for the vampire film 'Sinners' was a surprise, edging out favorite Timothée Chalamet. The film centers on two brothers returning to their hometown, facing supernatural evil.
Smith's ban stems from the on-stage altercation with Chris Rock at the 2022 ceremony after a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's alopecia. While Smith apologized at the time, the Academy enforced a decade-long exclusion from all its events.
