The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which presents the Oscars, announced in a press release on Wednesday March 30 that it had ” ask [l’acteur américain Will] Smith to leave the ceremony and that he refused”after he slapped comedian Chris Rock during the ceremony held Sunday in Los Angeles.
Reacting for the first time publicly, Chris Rock for his part declared at the start of a show in Boston that he was “still digesting what happened”.
“We also recognize that we could have handled the situation differently”admitted the Academy, whose board of directors opened a “Disciplinary Proceedings Against Will Smith for Violations [de son] rules, which includes inappropriate physical contact, abusive or dangerous conduct and compromising the integrity of the Academy”announces the press release.
“Disciplinary action”
It was a joke by Chris Rock about the shaved head of Will Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, suffering from alopecia – a disease causing severe hair loss, which she revealed to suffer from a few years ago – which had triggered the ‘scandal.
Will Smith suddenly took the stage and slapped Chris Rock, to the dumbfounded gaze of celebrities and viewers. Will Smith, rewarded shortly after the incident by the Oscar for best actor for his role in The Williams Methodhas since issued a public apology to Chris Rock and the Academy.
The latter’s board of directors met on Wednesday and “opened disciplinary proceedings against Will Smith for violations of Academy policies, which include inappropriate physical contact, abusive or dangerous conduct and compromising the integrity of the Academy”according to the press release.
A possible sanction against him will be discussed at a meeting scheduled for April 18, she adds. It could include the suspension or expulsion of Will Smith from the Academy, which has thousands of members. The queen institution of American cinema gives the actor a fortnight before the Academy decides, thus offering him “the opportunity to be heard by means of a written response”continues the text.
Chris Rock digests
Chris Rock, who did not wish to file a complaint after his attack, did not speak publicly on the subject until Wednesday evening. “I don’t have much to say about what happened, so if you guys came to hear this…I have an entire show I wrote before last weekend”launched the comedian shortly after arriving on stage for a show in Boston, according to a short sound clip released by the magazine Variety. “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 added.
Wanda Sykes, one of three presenters who hosted the Oscars gala evening, said the incident literally left her “made ill”. “And I’m still a little traumatized”she assured during a talk show hosted by comedian Ellen DeGeneres.
A comedian herself, Wanda Sykes felt that Will Smith should never have been allowed to stay in the room and receive his trophy after such a gesture. “It sends the wrong message. If you attack someone, we get you out of the building, period”did she say.