Award shows should be glitz, glamour, and gilded statuettes all the way. But occasionally, the backstage drama eclipses the show itself—sometimes so completely that a celebrity gets themselves uninvited… for good. From tabloid-filling scandals to jaw-dropping red carpet ruckus, these are 10 of the most infamous celebrity bans from Hollywood’s most iconic nights, from “wild” to “utterly unforgettable,” and counting down.
10. Harvey Weinstein – From Kingmaker to Outcast
What was once the most influential Oscar kingmaker, Harvey Weinstein, is now the most excluded. Following numerous allegations of sexual harassment, Weinstein was dismissed from the Academy, BAFTA, SAG, and others. His demise not only ruined his career.
9. Roman Polanski – Winning, But Not Welcome
Roman Polanski escaped the U.S. in 1978 after he pleaded guilty to illegal sexual contact with a minor. Although continuing to win substantial honors—including a 2003 Oscar for The Pianist—he is prohibited from visiting the country, so he can’t attend the ceremonies in Japan himself. His continuing accolades under the ban are one of the biggest scandals in the industry.
8. Will Smith – The Slap Heard Around the Globe
The 2022 Oscars will never be forgotten for the on-stage slap delivered by Will Smith to Chris Rock. What did the Academy do about it? A decade-long ban on attending all Oscar events. Smith got to keep his Best Actor award, but for ten years now, he’s skipped Hollywood’s biggest night.
7. Marlon Brando – Protest and Penalty
In 1973, Marlon Brando boycotted the Oscars and sent activist Sacheen Littlefeather in his place to protest Hollywood’s treatment of Native Americans. The move ruffled some feathers, and Brando was discreetly banned from attending ceremonies in the future. Though his acting career continued to flourish, he never reappeared on the Oscars stage.
6. Rose McGowan – Hollywood’s Unofficial Blacklist
Rose McGowan was among the first to speak out against Harvey Weinstein, and her efforts helped give birth. However, her activism didn’t come cheap—she asserts that she was shut out of award shows such as the Golden Globes and SAG Awards for refusing to adhere to the “Hollywood system.”
5. Sean Young – Crashing the Party
A Blade Runner and Wall Street star, Sean Young was notorious for being quirky. That reputation peaked in 2012 when she crashed the Vanity Fair Oscar party, got into a brawl, and was arrested. The reward? An instant ban on showing up to future A-list parties.
4. Sacha Baron Cohen – Red Carpet Chaos
The Academy tried to bar Sacha Baron Cohen from attending the 2012 Oscars when he planned on showing up in character as General Aladeen from The Dictator. They feared that he’d pull a stunt—and they were right. Cohen did show up, dumping “ashes” on Ryan Seacrest and showing the world that he’s never afraid to cause chaos.
3. Richard Gere – Speaking Out Comes with a Price
When Richard Gere expressed outrage over China’s invasion of Tibet in his 1993 Oscars acceptance speech, he seized the moment to publicly condemn China. The ad-libbed political remark didn’t sit well with the Academy, and they’re reported to have banned him for over ten years. The ban was later rescinded, but the message was received: step out of line, and you pay the price.
2. Mo’Nique – Not Playing the Game
Following her Oscar win for Precious, Mo’Nique claims that she was blacklisted because she refused to “campaign” the way the studios wanted. Loud in protesting against industry mistreatment, she claims not to have been invited back to major awards, including the Oscars and Golden Globes. She became a face of Hollywood’s quiet backlash against complainers.
1. Mickey Rourke – Hollywood’s Constant Wild Card
Mickey Rourke’s on-again, off-again relationship with Hollywood has spanned decades. His big comeback in The Wrestler reignited hopes, but his coarse attitude and off-screen antics guaranteed he was not welcome at some awards ceremonies. In 2025, he was again in the headlines after leaving Celebrity Big Brother UK for “inappropriate behavior,” with co-star Bella Thorne later accusing him of inappropriate behavior. If the awards are unable to deal with the chaos, Rourke seems quite content without them.
Hollywood loves a redemption story, but these examples indicate that there are some scandals that make the shadow too big for the red carpet. From political protests to public meltdowns or outright scandals, the bans have become a legend along with the awards themselves.