Academy moves up Will Smith board meeting to discuss sanctions ‘in a timely fashion’

(The Hill) – The board of governors for the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences has moved up their assembly to debate potential sanctions towards Will Smith after his Oscars slap to Friday.

In a letter obtained by The Hill, Academy president David Rubin mentioned it was within the “greatest curiosity of all concerned for this to be dealt with in a well timed trend.”

The board was initially scheduled to satisfy on April 18 to judge what steps it ought to take towards Smith, who made headlines after slapping comic Chris Rock in the course of the March 27 ceremony.

Rubin famous that since Smith resigned from the Academy following the incident, they now not needed to adhere to sure timeframes, together with giving him the chance to supply the board with a written assertion at least 5 days previous to the assembly.

“Following Mr. Smith’s resignation of his Academy membership on Friday, April 1, suspension or expulsion are now not a chance and the legally prescribed timetable now not applies,” Rubin wrote.

The assembly is now reportedly scheduled to happen Friday morning at 9:00 a.m. PST through Zoom.

The Academy introduced final week it was starting disciplinary proceedings towards the actor for  “violations of the Academy’s Requirements of Conduct.”