Yellowstone actor wont attend awards ceremony over COVID-19 rules – KOIN.com

FILE Finished solid bronze Actor statuettes are displayed during the 25th Annual Casting of the Screen Actors Guild Awards at American Fine Arts Foundry, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019, in Burbank, Calif. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)

(The Hill) Yellowstone actor Forrie J. Smith will not attend the Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony later this month because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19 and the event requires that all attendees are fully inoculated.

Smith, in a video posted to Instagram this week, announced that he would not be in attendance at the awards ceremony, which is scheduled for Feb. 27.

All individuals at theScreen Actors Guild Awards must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and must have received a booster shot if eligible. Attendees will also be required to submit a negative coronavirus PCR test that was taken within 48 hours of arriving at the ceremony.

A rapid test will then be administered to all attendees on the day of the event.

Additionally, the organization is requiring that KN95 or FF94 masks be worn at all times during the event. Exceptions to the mandate include when people are participating in red carpet or media opportunities,are on camera in the showroom, or are eatingordrinking.

Smith, who is part of the Yellowstone cast nominated for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series, apologized for not being able to attend the event.

He said he has not received an initial COVID-19 vaccination series or a booster shot and appeared to mock the events mask mandate.

I mean no offense to anyone. Im not vaccinated, and its a requirement to be vaccinated to be at the Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony, he said.

The actor said he has not been vaccinated since he was a little kid, adding that he does not vaccinate his dogs or horses. He also said has never received and will never receive a flu shot.

Smith said he was looking forward to walking down the red carpet in my big black American hat and my Justin boots and representing my culture and heritage, but Im not gonna be able to do that, and I apologize to yall out there that are part of my culture and heritage.

I wont be representing us at the Screen Actors Guild Awards walking down the red carpet. But its no offense to anybody, anything. Its just my beliefs, he added.

I just dont believe in that stuff, he added, before saying that maybe next year he will walk the red carpet.

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Yellowstone actor wont attend awards ceremony over COVID-19 rules - KOIN.com