Who is Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor?

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is an Oscar-nominated actress who co-starred alongside Will Smith in the biographical film King Richard.

What did Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor say about Will Smith?

She offered rare public backing for Will Smith regarding the 2022 Oscars slap incident and his subsequent ban from Academy events.

What was Will Smith's penalty for the Oscars slap?

Will Smith resigned from the Academy and received a ten-year ban from attending any Academy events or ceremonies.

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor Backs Will Smith Over Oscars Ban

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor Defends King Richard Co-Star Will Smith Over Academy Ban

By The Reviser DeskPublished Aug 14, 2026, 4:52 AMUpdated Aug 14, 2026, 5:01 AM1 min read

ELLIS-TAYLOR BACKS WILL SMITH

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AI summary

Actress Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor has publicly offered support for her King Richard co-star Will Smith following his infamous Oscars slap incident. The 57-year-old performer commented on Smith's ten-year ban from Academy events in a rare defense from an industry colleague.

Why this matters

Public support for Will Smith from high-profile Hollywood colleagues remains relatively uncommon following the 2022 Academy Awards controversy. Ellis-Taylor's commentary offers insight into how industry peers view Smith's career trajectory and the long-term impact of his Academy suspension.

Key takeaways

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor defended her King Richard co-star Will Smith regarding his 2022 Oscars incident.
The 57-year-old actress addressed Smith's decade-long ban from Academy Awards events.
Public endorsements from Hollywood peers remain rare following Smith's altercation with Chris Rock.
Smith won the Best Actor Oscar for King Richard on the night of the controversy.

Translate

Actress Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor has publicly voiced support for her former co-star Will Smith, addressing the fallout from the 2022 Academy Awards incident involving comedian Chris Rock. Reports from The News Entertainment indicate that the 57-year-old performer offered a rare defense of Smith regarding his subsequent ten-year ban from Oscar events.

Ellis-Taylor shared the screen with Smith in the acclaimed biographical drama King Richard, a role that earned Smith the Academy Award for Best Actor on the same night as the altercation. While industry colleagues have largely avoided commenting on the matter in recent years, Ellis-Taylor broke the silence to express backing for her former castmate.

The incident occurred during the 94th Academy Awards ceremony when Smith walked onto the stage and struck Rock following a joke made about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. The moment sparked global headlines and resulted in Smith resigning from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, along with receiving a decade-long prohibition from attending Academy functions.

Ellis-Taylor's supportive remarks highlight an ongoing conversation within Hollywood regarding public scrutiny and professional consequences following high-profile industry scandals. Smith has since sought to rebuild his screen career, making selective public appearances and focusing on new cinematic projects.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor?: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is an Oscar-nominated actress who co-starred alongside Will Smith in the biographical film King Richard.
What did Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor say about Will Smith?: She offered rare public backing for Will Smith regarding the 2022 Oscars slap incident and his subsequent ban from Academy events.
What was Will Smith's penalty for the Oscars slap?: Will Smith resigned from the Academy and received a ten-year ban from attending any Academy events or ceremonies.

Source & transparency

By:: The Reviser Desk
Source:: The News Entertainment
Original publication:: Aug 14, 2026, 4:52 AM
The Reviser publication:: Aug 14, 2026, 4:52 AM
Updated:: Aug 14, 2026, 5:01 AM

This report was independently written by The Reviser editorial desk from verified source material. It is not original on-the-ground reporting by The Reviser.

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