Graffiti Artist Banksy Banned From Oscars | Neon Tommy

Graffiti Artist Banksy Banned From Oscars | Neon Tommy: "Banksy, star and director of the Oscar nominated documentary “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” was banned from attending the Academy Awards Sunday after he insisted on being in disguise.

The Academy’s executive director Bruce Davis barred Banksy, a notorious British graffiti artist, from attending the ceremony in disguise because of potential issues with imposters and party crashers, according to Yahoo.com contributor Susan Montag.

In “Exit Through the Gift Shop,” which is nominated for best documentary, Banksy’s face is shadowed and he is wearing a hoodie to mask his identity, and the Academy does not want someone wearing a monkey suit accepting an award on stage.

'The fun but disquieting scenario is that if the film wins and five guys in monkey masks come to the stage all saying, 'I'm Banksy,' who the hell do we give it to?' said Davis.

If the film, which follows guerilla artists and collectors, wins, its producer Jaimie D’Cruz will accept the award for he and Banksy, according to Elle.com writer Brooke Bobb.

Other people have been banned from the Oscars, including “The Hurt Locker” producer Nicolas Chartier who broke the Academy’s rule against “creating a negative impression of a rival nominee,” according to Montag. "

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