The Academy Is Making A Decision About Will Smith’s Oscar—He Must Be Freaking Out!
March 30, 2022 by Maria Pierides
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.
“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.