The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced an investigation into actor Will Smith slapping presenter and comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards show on Sunday evening.
“The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith,” the Academy said in a statement 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.”
BRITISH PARLIAMENT INVITES WILL SMITH TO SPEAK ON ‘ONE PUNCH ASSAULT’ AFTER CHRIS ROCK SLAP
Smith slapped Rock onstage after the comedian made a joke mocking the bald-headed look of his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who has alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss.
“Jada, I love you, G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it,” Rock said. Smith initially seemed to laugh at the joke, while Pinkett Smith appeared to look irritated. Moments later, Smith walked onstage toward Rock and slapped him. Upon returning to his seat, Smith yelled at Rock to keep his wife’s name out of his “f***ing mouth.”
“Wow, Will Smith just smacked the s*** out of me,” Rock said as the show continued.
New statement from academy:
“The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith … 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”
— Brooks Barnes (@brooksbarnesNYT) March 28, 2022
Will Smith later won the Best Actor trophy for his role in King Richard, which tells the story of the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams. During his acceptance speech, Smith offered an apology to the Academy and his “fellow nominees” but did not mention Rock.
Rock has not filed a police report.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Smith’s actions have left people divided on how to respond to his slapping Rock, including the question of whether the Academy should take away his Oscar.
Marshall Herskovitz, a filmmaker and member of the Academy, said he was calling for the organization “to take disciplinary action against Will Smith.”
I can assure you that your community has many more disgraceful actions that have impacted many more people than Will Smith. See Roman Polanski, Mel Gibson, Harvey Weinstein, Alfred Hitchcock, etc. https://t.co/wrXdvqCZ2h
— Sil Lai Abrams AKA Alecto ALT: A Woman Finding ☮️ (@Sil_Lai) March 28, 2022
Author and activist against domestic violence Sil Lai Abrams said “disgraceful actions” of other well-known people in the movie-making business — such as actor Mel Gibson, Roman Polanski, and Harvey Weinstein — have “impacted more people” than what Smith did to Rock.
