Yellowstone star Forrie J. Smith has said that he will not be attending the upcoming Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards ceremony because of their vaccine requirement.
Smith posted a video on his Instagram announcing his stance, though it has since been deleted from his account.
"I want to apologize to y'all for not being at the Screen Actors Guild Awards," said Smith in the video. "I mean no offense to anyone. I'm not vaccinated, and it's a requirement to be vaccinated to be at the Screen Actors Guild Awards ceremony." “I will not get vaccinated.”
Yellowstone actor, Forrie J. Smith, won’t be attending the SAG Awards due to its vaccine mandate.
God bless him for standing his ground with his beliefs. pic.twitter.com/bgfKcHP61Y
— Courtney Holland 🇺🇸 (@hollandcourtney) February 17, 2022
The actor asserted, "I'm not vaccinated, I will not get vaccinated."
“I’m not vaccinated, I will not get vaccinated,” Smith added. “I haven’t been vaccinated since I was a little kid. I don’t vaccinate my dogs, I don’t vaccinate my horses. I’ve never had a flu shot. I never will. I believe they compromise your immunities… It’s just my beliefs. I just don’t believe in that stuff. Whatever.”
Smith said that he had been "looking forward to walking down the carpet in my big black American hat" and cowboy boots.
The video concluded with the actor saying, “Thank y’all and enjoy watching the show anyway. Maybe next year we can get down on that red carpet.”
Smith plays Lloyd Pierce on Yellowstone, which has been nominated for a SAG Award in the Drama Series Ensemble category."This year's SAG Awards ceremony is being held with strict COVID-19 safety protocols in place, including a requirement that attendees provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination. Vaccine booster shots are required for those who are eligible," according to a report from Newsweek. "In addition, attendees are required to provide a negative PCR test within 48 hours of the ceremony and a negative rapid antigen test result on the day of the ceremony. There is also a requirement to wear KN95 or KN94 face masks 'for the entirety of the event.'"
The ceremony will be taking place on February 27.
Timcast has reached out to Paramount for comment and will update this story if one is provided.