There are calls for the Academy to strip Will Smith of his Best Actor Oscar after he took to the stage and punched comedian Chris Rock, who was presenting an award on stage, and a joke about Jada Pinkett- to do Smith’s hair.
The Dolby Theater was in complete confusion during the live broadcast the moment after the attack, with many people initially wondering if the entire punch was part of a stunt.
It took a few moments to process the normally imperturbable skirt. Colorful language followed from Smith, confirming it wasn’t a joke at all.
Could Will Smith be stripped of his Oscar? The academy is under pressure to respond after the King Richard star flouted the academy’s code of conduct, which was drawn up during the Me Too movement
Less than fifteen minutes later, Smith received the greatest accolade of his life when he picked up the Best Actor award by delivering a tearful speech in which he attempted to connect his outburst to his role in King Richard as someone who ” defended his family”.
He also took a moment to apologize to the Academy and his fellow contestants, but that may not be enough to strip him of the award now.
“It’s basically assault. Everyone in the room was just so shocked, it was so uncomfortable,” an executive told the New York Post.
“I don’t think Will would want to give his Oscar back, but who knows what will happen now.”
US actor Will Smith slaps US actor Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards
During the ensuing commercial break, Will Smith was pulled aside and comforted by Denzel Washington, and Tyler Perry appeared to signal him to put it aside.
Smith was seen wiping tears from his eyes as Washington led him back to his front row seat.
Smith revealed during his acceptance speech that Washington had told him “that in his ‘highest moment the devil is coming for you.’
“In this business you have to be able to have people treat you with disrespect. You have to smile and pretend that’s okay,” Smith said.
“I want to be a vessel for love. I would like to thank Venus and Serena. Thank you for trusting me with your story. I want to do that. I want to be an ambassador of that kind of love, caring and caring.”
Smith’s representative could be seen rushing to his side as he sat down again next to his wife.
The producer of the entire Oscar show, Will Packer, also came over to Smith’s table and said something to him.
His publicist continued to speak to him during the Oscars’ final commercial breaks.
Backstage, the Academy urged the assembled journalists not to ask any of the actors present about the slap seen around the word.
Smith won his first Oscar for his role in King Richard shortly after beating Chris Rock on live television
Director Apatow was appalled by the behavior he observed on stage.
‘He could have killed him. This is pure out of control anger and violence. You’ve heard a million jokes about her over the past three decades. You are not new to the world of Hollywood and comedy. He’s lost his mind.’
But the Academy takes a back seat to any form of violence in its code of conduct.
“Academy membership is a privilege offered to only a select few within the global filmmaking community,” wrote Dawn Hudson, CEO of AMPAS, to members in 2017.
Hudson highlighted values the academy valued, including “promoting a supportive environment and respect for human dignity.”
“In addition to achieving excellence in the field of cinematic arts and science, members must also behave ethically by upholding the Academy’s values of respect for human dignity, inclusion and a supportive environment that fosters creativity.
Denzel Washington comforts Will Smith during the show at the Oscars after Smith’s attack on Chris Rock
“There is no place in the Academy for persons who abuse their status, power or influence in a manner contrary to accepted standards of decency. The Academy resolutely opposes any form of abuse, harassment or discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, age, religion or nationality. The Board of Governors believes these standards are essential to the Academy’s mission and reflect our values,” Hudson said in a statement, reported by Variety.
Legally, Smith may have gotten away with it. Late Sunday night, the LAPD released a statement that no police report had yet been filed.
“LAPD investigative authorities are aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards program. In the incident, one person hit another. The person concerned declined to make a complaint to the police.
“If the party involved desires a police report at a later date, the LAPD is available to complete an investigative report.”
Many users on Twitter said they wanted to see Smith take his gong for best actor
The Academy has taken action against members in the past.
In 2017, Greg P. Russell, a recording engineer on 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, was stripped of his Oscar nomination after he was caught phoning his colleagues in the academy’s sound department to bring his work to their attention to make the movie.
The calls are a “direct violation of a campaign ordinance that prohibits telephone lobbying,” the academy said in a statement.
In 2014, the song Alone Yet Not Alone from the little-known film of the same name was released.
The Best Original Song nomination was withdrawn after composer Bruce Broughton, an academician and former governor, emailed fellow members of the branch.