Academy ‘condemns’ Will Smith’s Oscar night slap, promises ‘formal review’

From Reuters By Sara Nathan and Gabrielle Fonrouge March 28, 2022

Natalie’s Commentary:

At the Oscars, Chris Rock inappropriately dissed Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith’s beautiful wife, angering and shaming the Smith’s. Prompting Will, in the heat of the moment, to step onto the Oscars stage and smack Chris Rock, defending his wife’s honor. In the days of “The Age of Innocence” that was a demonstration of chivalry which had nothing to do with which opinions people sided with.

Of course, most of Hollywood came to Chris Rock’s side and didn’t approve of this smack on the face on the Oscars stage. But is it okay for Hollywood to continue to make the world’s most violent movies with a violent war making history going on in Ukraine as Hollywood Stars receive their accolades. The world is filled with spurious hypocrisy and nothing remains unchallenged even on the Oscar’s stage. ~ Natalie

A “formal review” into Will Smith’s Oscar night slap of Chris Rock is underway, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Monday, as it denounced the “King Richard” star’s behavior.

“The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith,” the statement read.

“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.”

The statement from the AMPAS is its first official comment since the primetime assault — though it tweeted early Monday that it does “not condone violence of any form.” The group stopped short of noting any specific consequences Smith could face.

Late Sunday, Smith walked on stage and slapped Rock after he made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s baldness, prompting Hollywood insiders to speculate whether his eventual Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in “King Richard” could be revoked.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences condemned Will Smith’s slap of Chris Rock and announced a formal review of the incident is being conducted.

A longtime Academy member told The Post they don’t think Smith would be deprived of the honor — but that it’s possible he won’t be asked back next year to present the Best Actress Oscar, as is customary. Smith may also have his membership stripped altogether after violating the group’s strict code of conduct, the source said.

“He crossed a line,” the Academy source dished.

“Where was security? It was a bad joke, in bad taste, but Jada could have easily just taken Will’s arm when she saw him get up and pulled him back. Will could also just have yelled at Chris from his seat … He could have said, ‘Hey, apologize to my wife’ from his seat.”

Rock hasn’t pressed charges against Smith after the altercation on stage.

Smith continues the verbal altercation after returning to his seat.

Whoopi Goldberg, a governor on AMPAS’s board, said Monday that Smith won’t lose his trophy but consequences will surely come.

“We’re not going to take that Oscar from him,” she said on “The View.”

“We’re not going to take it. Well, there will be consequences, I’m sure. But I don’t think that that’s what they’ll be. Particularly because Chris said, ‘Listen, I’m not pressing any charges.’”

Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, being bald.

The Los Angeles Police Department released a statement saying Rock has “declined to file a police report” but that if he changes his mind, the agency “will be available to complete an investigative report.”

A source friendly with Rock said he doesn’t think he’ll press charges but “it has not been decided yet.”

“He has the right to make a complaint,” the source said.