Will Smith faces possible suspension from Academy after Oscar slap

The group behind the Oscar awards is weighing disciplinary actions towards actor Will Smith, together with doable expulsion or suspension, for slapping presenter Chris Rock at Sunday’s awards ceremony.

The Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences’ board of governors met on Wednesday to debate how Smith ought to be punished for violating its requirements of conduct. It has confronted criticism for not ejecting Smith from the auditorium of the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles after he hit Rock for a joke about his spouse’s hair.

The actor remained in his seat and, about 45 minutes later, acquired an Oscar, and a standing ovation, for his efficiency in King Richard. In an announcement on Wednesday, the Academy stated Smith had been requested to depart however refused.

“Issues unfolded in a approach we couldn’t have anticipated,” the Academy stated. “Whereas we wish to make clear that Mr Smith was requested to depart the ceremony and refused, we additionally recognise we might have dealt with the state of affairs in a different way.”

Smith apologised to the Academy throughout his acceptance speech for the Greatest Actor award, however notably didn’t apologise to Rock on the time. He did so on Monday in an Instagram submit. 

The incident, dubbed “the slap heard around the globe”, has left Hollywood shaken and divided over how the Academy responded on Sunday — and the way, or whether or not, to punish Smith.

It has additionally created yet one more disaster for the Academy at a second when it had hoped to maneuver previous years of declining scores and embarrassments. In 2015 it was criticised for not nominating sufficient individuals of color for Oscars, resulting in the #OscarsSoWhite social media marketing campaign. Two years later introduced “Envelopegate”, through which the improper finest image was introduced. Final yr it suffered the worst viewer scores in its historical past, at about 10mn. 

Some Academy members have stated Smith shouldn’t be allowed to return to the ceremony subsequent yr as a presenter for the Greatest Actress award, as is the customized for Greatest Actor winners. 

Smith can have the possibility to defend himself earlier than the board meets once more on April 18. 

“Mr Smith’s actions on the 94th Oscars have been a deeply surprising, traumatic occasion to witness in-person and on tv,” the Academy stated. 

It additionally apologised to Rock, thanking him for his “resilience in that second” and apologised to “our nominees, visitors and viewers for what transpired throughout what ought to have been a celebratory occasion”.