The organisers of the Oscars announced a "formal review" into Will Smith's actions will take place after the actor appeared to strike Chris Rock at the Academy Awards. The actor stormed on stage after Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's hair loss.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said it “condemned” the actions of Smith, who later went on to win the Oscar for best actor following the incident at the 94th annual movie awards. Smith stormed onstage and hit the comedian in front of a star-studded audience at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, after Rock made a joke about his wife suffering from alopecia.
In a statement to media on Monday (March 28), the film academy said: “The Academy condemns the actions of Mr Smith at last night’s show. 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.”
Read more: Will Smith will not have Oscar taken away, says Whoopi Goldberg
Chat show host Whoopi Goldberg, a governor of the Academy Awards, earlier tonight said Smith will not have his award taken away from him following the incident.
Speaking on her talk show The View, Goldberg said: “We’re not going to take that Oscar from him. There will be consequences, I’m sure, but I don’t think that that’s what they’ll do, particularly because Chris said, ‘Listen, I’m not pressing any charges’.
“(Smith) made a mistake… overreactions, mistakes were made. I think he overreacted. He had one of those moments where he was like… just stop. And you’ve got all the pressure of hoping that you win and trying to keep your face.
“I get it, not everyone acts the way we would like them to under pressure, some people just snap. He snapped. I don’t know if they spoke or if he apologised or not, all I know is that sometimes you get to a point and you behave badly.”
Referring to Pinkett Smith’s buzzcut, Rock said: “Jada, can’t wait for GI Jane 2,” prompting the actress to roll her eyes. However, Smith walked up on stage and appeared to hit Rock before returning to his seat and shouting twice: “Keep my wife’s name out of your f****** mouth.” The altercation left Rock shocked and flustered as he tried to resume presenting the best documentary feature category.
Smith apologised to the Academy and his fellow nominees, but not to Rock, as he collected his gong, joking that he “looks like the crazy father”. Breaking down in tears, he said: “Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family. I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people.
“I know to do what we do you’ve got to be able to take abuse, you’ve got to be able to have people talk crazy about you in this business. You’ve got to be able have people disrespecting you and you’ve got to smile and pretend like that’s okay.
“I want to apologise to the Academy, I want to apologise to all my fellow nominees. Art imitates life, I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams, but love will make you do crazy things.” He concluded by saying he hoped the Academy invited him back in future.
