More details are coming out after Will Smith’s shocking Oscar night.
As reported in New York Daily News, after Will slapped Chris Rock, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences asked Will to leave, but he “refused.” According to a statement obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, the Academy said they would “initiate disciplinary proceedings” against Smith for the slap.”
Whoopi Goldberg, who is a member of the board, said Will wouldn’t have his Oscar taken away but would face “big consequences.” NYDN points out, “Only Roman Polanski, Bill Cosby, and Harvey Weinstein have been expelled from the Academy before. Still, Polanski and Weinstein kept their Oscars. Cosby never won one.”
On Sunday, March 27, Will walked on stage and smacked Chris across the face. The assault came after Chris made a joke that he was looking forward to a sequel to “G.I. Jane,” which was ultimately a jab at Jada Pinkett-Smith’s shaved head. When Will sat back down, he shouted to Chris, “keep my wife’s name out of your f*** mouth.”
Will also won his first Oscar for Best Actor in ‘King Richard.’ When he accepted his speech, he delivered a tearful apology to the Academy, and the following day, he wrote an apology to Chris via a social media post. Jada also seemingly spoke out, and Will plans on addressing the matter more on his wife’s show, Red Table Talk.