The Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences explained on Wednesday April 6 that this meeting had been brought forward since Will Smith has meanwhile resigned on his own.
The Academy of Oscars will meet on Friday to decide on possible sanctions against actor Will Smith after he slapped Chris Rock, ten days earlier than the date originally set.
Read alsoHollywood turns its back on Will Smith after Oscar slap episode
SEE ALSO – Stunning moment at the 2022 Oscars: Will Smith hits Chris Rock on stage
The Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences explained on Wednesday April 6 that this meeting had been brought forward since Will Smith has meanwhile resigned on his own. The actor therefore no longer needs a period of time to prepare his defense in this disciplinary procedure which could lead to a suspension or expulsion from the organization. “It is in the interests of all parties that the matter be resolved as soon as possible.wrote Academy President David Rubin in a letter to members.
“Unacceptable and harmful behavior”
Will Smith, 53, took the lead last Friday, apologizing for his action and announcing his resignation from the Academy. “My actions at the 94th Academy Awards were shocking, painful and inexcusable“Wrote the actor, five days after going on stage to slap comedian Chris Rock who had just made a joke about his wife’s cropped hair. Jada Pinkett Smith went public a few years ago with alopecia, a condition that causes severe hair loss. A few tens of minutes after the slap, Will Smith returned to the Oscars stage to receive the best actor award for his role in “The Williams Method».
Read alsoWill the Grammy Awards forget the slap in the face of Will Smith at the Oscars?
In a letter to members of the Academy, the leaders said “scandalizedby the incident, lamenting that the ceremony “was overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behavior of a contestant on stage“. The board of directors had opened a disciplinary procedure but Chris Rock explicitly refused to file a complaint after the slap. “I’m still digesting what happened. So at some point I’m going to talk about this stuff. And it will be serious and funny“, he said at the start of a show, a few days after the incident. Voices were raised to demand that Will Smith be stripped of his Oscar, but others pointed out that neither Harvey Weinstein, a former Hollywood mogul convicted of rape and sexual assault, nor director Roman Polanski had been forced to return their statuette after being expelled from the Academy.
SEE ALSO – Slap at the Oscars: Will Smith apologizes to Chris Rock