The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has launched a formal review into Will Smith’s slap of Chris Rock at the Oscars and says it ‘condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night’s show.’
The organization released the statement Monday afternoon, according to Variety, after facing backlash over not naming Smith when initially addressing the incident.
‘The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night’s show,’ a spokesperson for the organization said. ‘We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law.’
Smith could possibly face some type of disciplinary action or sanction, Variety reported, but it’s unlikely he will be made to hand over his award because the Academy states it is ‘categorically opposed to any form of abuse.’
The organization held emergency talks over Zoom about possibly stripping Smith of his Best Actor gong for smacking Chris Rock across the face for cracking a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith, it was revealed on Monday, as Hollywood’s hypocritical woke elite still scrambled to party with him through the night.
Oscar bosses were said to be split over whether to take the actor’s trophy for his role in ‘King Richard’ because the assault breaks a new code of conduct drawn up by The Academy in the wake of #MeToo movement and the appalling crimes of Harvey Weinstein.
Members, including Smith himself, have agreed to behave in a way that never violates ‘the integrity of the Academy by their actions’ or face suspension or expulsion. Critics are clear that the actor’s live TV attack meets that definition – but his supporters insist he ‘should be able to hold on to it’.
A source told The Sun: ‘Once the ceremony was over they called in key members to hold an emergency meeting about what action they should take.
‘There have been calls to have Will stripped of his Best Actor gong. They cannot be seen to be condoning violence in any way and there are some people in the Academy who believe they should remove the award from him to make a point. Others, however, believe he should be allowed to hold on to it’.
Chris Rock, who has not been seen since the attack, has been offered a ‘package of after care’ including a counsellor if he needs one, the insider said. The comedian has told the Los Angeles Police Department that he does not want to press charges.
But LA’s rich and famous still welcomed Smith like a hero as they partied with him on Sunday night. The star, 53, was hugged, high-fived and hallowed by guests at the Vanity Fair party in Beverley Hills even after his assault on the comedian just minutes before being handed his now-tainted Best Actor award.
Despite being accused of shaming his profession and wrecking a historic moment when he became just the fifth black man to win an Oscar for male lead, he was mobbed by A-listers desperate to celebrate with him.
Smith posed for selfies with the usually woke LA crowd who cheered him as he rapped along to his biggest hits including Summertime and Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills this morning.
But the Hollywood glitterati, many of whom will have been at the ceremony last night, have publicly criticised people like JK Rowling, who is a staunch defender of women’s rights including how they should take primacy over those of transgender people, especially when it comes to safe spaces.
READ ALSO: Nicki Minaj defends Will Smith for slapping Chris Rock
Critics have also pointed out The Academy banned Kevin Hart as host of the 2019 Academy Awards over historic unacceptable tweets – but has not punished Will Smith for punching someone. Chrissy Teigen was also cancelled because of social media posts.
Bernardine Evaristo, the Man Booker prize-winning writer, tweeted: ‘What a thing to wake up to. Only the fifth black man in nearly 100 years to win an Oscar for male lead, and the first in 16 years, resorts to violence instead of utilising the power of words to slay Chris Rock. Then he claims God and love made him do it.’
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on Monday said it condemns the actions of Will Smith during Sunday night’s Oscars and it will launch a formal review of his slapping of presenter Chris Rock.
In a statement Monday, the film academy said: “The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night’s show. We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our bylaws, standards of conduct and California law.”
Smith stunned the Dolby Theatre crowd and viewers at home when he took the stage during Rock’s remarks after the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, Smith’s wife. Rock said, “Jada, I love you. ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it.”
The joke touched a nerve. Pinkett Smith, whose head is shaved, has spoken publicly about her alopecia diagnosis. Rock has also previously joked about her. Rock hosted the 2016 Oscars, when some were boycotting the ceremony over the #OscarsSoWhite group of nominees, including the Smiths. Said Rock: “Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties. I wasn’t invited.”
Smith strode on stage and slapped Rock across the face. Back in his seat, Smith twice shouted for Rock to “get my wife’s name out your (expletive) mouth.” His words echoed clearly throughout the Dolby, though ABC cut the audio for about 15 seconds. Within an hour, Smith won best actor. During his acceptance speech, Smith apologized to the academy.
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After the show Sunday night, the academy posted a statement condemning violence. The Los Angeles Police Department said Sunday it was aware of a slapping incident at the Oscars but said the person involved had declined to file a police report.
Some academy members, like writer-producer Marshall Herskovitz, called for the academy to take disciplinary action against Smith.
“He disgraced our entire community tonight,” wrote Herskovitz on Twitter.
Whoopi Goldberg, a member of the Academy’s board of governors, said Monday on “The View”: “We’re not going to take that Oscar from him. There will be consequences, I’m sure.”
AP
