Three days after the violent incident that took place in the middle of this week’s Oscars ceremony, in which actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock, last night (Tuesday) the management of the Film Academy held an emergency hearing on the consequences of the recent Oscar winner’s actions.
A statement issued tonight by the academy said Smith had been asked to leave the ceremony and refused. “Mr. Rock, we apologize to you for what you experienced on our stage and thank you for the resilience you demonstrated at that moment. We also apologize to our candidates, guests and spectators for what happened during what should have been a celebratory event. We could have handled a different situation,” the statement said. .
According to the announcement, the academy’s board has initiated disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violating the academy’s code of ethics, which includes “inappropriate physical contact, abusive or threatening conduct and harm to the integrity of the academy.” It was also reported that Smith will receive a 15-day notice before the council holds a vote on the decisions that will be made. A further hearing is set for April 18, during which the academy may take any disciplinary action, which may include suspension, expulsion or additional sanctions.
A day after the incident, Smith posted an apology on his Instagram account, in which he wrote: “Chris, I want to apologize to you in public. I am embarrassed and my actions did not testify to the person I want to be. There is no room for violence in a world of love and kindness.”
As you may recall, Smith, who was nominated and even later won the Best Leading Actor award, did not like a joke that Rock told, in which he compared Smith’s wife, Jada, to the protagonist of the movie “JA Jane” because of her shaved head. Smith, whose wife is dealing with an illness that causes baldness, took the stage and snacked on the stunned actor. When he returned to the audience he called out to Rock: “Keep my wife’s name out of your mouth.”