The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has officially launched a review into the now-infamous on-stage incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 27th, whereby Smith approached the stage to slap Rock after he made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith‘s shaved head, which was likely shaved as a result of her ongoing battle with alopecia.
The 53-year-old King Richard actor also shouted on two occasions as he was walking back to his seat following the slap, “Keep my wife’s name out of your [expletive] mouth.” According to reports, The Academy will “explore further actions and consequences” which could even go as far as Smith being stripped of his ‘Best Actor in a Leading Role’ Oscar, which he won for his portrayal of Venus and Serena Williams’ father, Richard Williams, in King Richard.
View this post on Instagram
“The Academy condemns the actions of Mr Smith at last night’s show,” read a statement from The Academy, following an emergency meeting on Monday. “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.” As per a letter from Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson, which was obtained by CNN, The Academy’s Board of Governors is now said to be working on a “determination” on “appropriate action” for Smith, which could “take a few weeks.” CNN reports that it is expected to be the main topic of conversation at the board’s annual post-Oscars meeting on Wednesday, March 30th.
The Academy’s Code of Conduct was re-written in 2017 following the Me Too Movement, and one of the most severe punishments could see Smith being permanently expelled from The Academy, as was the case for Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, and Roman Polanski. Weinstein was expelled for “sexually predatory behavior and workplace harassment,” while Cosby and Polanski were expelled “in accordance with the organization’s Standards of Conduct” after they were convicted of sexual assault. However, neither Weinstein’s nor Polanski’s Oscars were taken away.
Interestingly, a lot of people don’t believe that the actor will or should have his Oscar taken away, including Whoopi Goldberg, who is a member of The Academy’s Board of Governors. "We’re not going to take that Oscar from him," the 66-year-old Oscar-winner said on The View on Monday, March 28th. "There will be consequences I’m sure, but I don’t think that’s what they’ll do." Goldberg did of course say that Smith's behavior was not acceptable, saying, "Let me say this, there are consequences. There are big consequences because nobody is okay with what happened. Nobody, nobody, nobody."
Smith apologized for his on-stage behavior on several occasions. He firstly apologized to The Academy, the Williams family, and even the viewers at home during his emotional acceptance speech on Sunday, but did not include Rock in his apology. He did, however, take to Instagram the following day to apologize to the 57-year-old comedian directly, as well as once again to The Academy.
"Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night's Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable," the I Am Legend actor said in a statement that was posted to his Instagram account on Monday, March 28th. "Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally. I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness."
"I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world," the Hancock actor added, before once again apologizing to Venus and Serena Williams and the rest of their family. "I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us." He concluded by saying: "I am a work in progress." The next day, Pinkett-Smith finally broke her silence on the matter, and shared a short and sweet message on Instagram that read: "This is a season for healing and I'm here for it."
