Will Smith Was Asked To Leave Oscars After Slap But Refused

Will Smith was asked to leave the 2022 Oscars after the actor slapped Chris Rock onstage. Smith approached the stage and slapped Rock in the face after the comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. The actor then returned to his seat, where he yelled at Rock, who continued to present the award category he was presenting. Smith then won the Best Actor category for his performance in King Richard and took the stage to give an emotional speech, which had the audience giving a standing ovation.

Since the event transpired, Smith has publicly apologized to Rock, The Academy, and viewers of the presentation via social media. Pinkett Smith posted a cryptic response days later. At the same time, The Academy announced its intent to open an investigation into the matter, which would lead to some form of sanction against the actor for his violent behavior. Hollywood has reacted in kind, with celebrities sharing their discontent with the situation, including Jim Carrey. The latter called the incident “sickening,” which mirrors the thoughts of many in attendance, including one of the hosts, Wanda Sykes.

Now, The Academy has issued a statement (via THR) saying that they have “initiated disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith” after a meeting with The Board of Governors. In their statement, The Academy calls Smith’s actions “deeply shocking” and went on to issue apologies to Rock, as well as nominees, guests, and viewers who bore witness to the “traumatic event.” Much has been speculated as to why Smith wasn’t thrown out after the incident; however, The Academy clarifies in their statement that the actor was asked to leave but refused. Here’s the quote from their statement:

Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated. While we would like to clarify that Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognize we could have handled the situation differently.

In the wake of the event, Rock has remained mum, although LAPD confirmed that he said he did not wish to file charges against Smith. Hollywood stars, celebrities, and attendees have continued to express their feelings over the slap, with some showing support for Smith while others express their discontent with his actions. Almost everyone has rallied behind Rock, who showed a calm composure in the situation and maintained a professional demeanor in finishing his presentation despite the onstage assault on live TV.

There’s been a lot of discussion about what could’ve been done differently, especially in a complex situation. Smith’s actions are unheard of in Oscar history, and it’s evident that they weren’t prepared for such an incident. With so many moving parts and emotional heft surrounding the Oscars, let alone the technical and logistical nightmare such a ceremony brings, it’s not that surprising that Smith wasn’t immediately thrown out. Still, it does beg the question of whether or not any other individual would’ve been asked to leave had it not been Will Smith that committed the act. The Academy’s position on the incident will undoubtedly have long-lasting ramifications in Hollywood, so all eyes will be on their ruling when it’s handed down.

Source: THR

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