One of the four producers of The Hurt Locker, nominated for the Best Pictures Oscar at this weekend’s ceremony, has been banned from attending the Kodak Theatre for the event, in a row over the promotion of his film.
Nicholas Chartier violated the rules of the Academy by emailing voters to solicit votes for The Hurt Locker, while disparaging one of its competitors.
The rules governing how nominees can campaign for the Oscars prohibits them discrediting their rivals.
The executive committee of the Academy’s Producing Branch could have disqualified Chartier as an Oscar nominee, but decided instead just to ban him from Sunday’s ceremony. If The Hurt Locker is selected as the Best Picture, the other three producers will collect their trophy on the night and he will be given his statuette at a later date.