Academy determining 'appropriate action' against Will Smith for slapping Chris Rock at Oscars
Smith had an onstage altercation with Rock after a joke directed at his wife.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released another statement regarding its investigation into the confrontation between Will Smith and Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars after Smith walked on stage and slapped Rock in the face.
In the statement released overnight, the Academy said it's "upset and outraged" by the "unacceptable and harmful behavior" which "overshadowed" the night's many celebratory moments.
"To be clear, we condemn Mr. Smith's actions that transpired Sunday night," the Academy continued. It added that its Board of Governors will meet to "make a determination on appropriate action for Mr. Smith" in a process which will take "a few weeks."
Smith has since apologized, issuing an apology to Rock on Monday in which he said he was "embarrassed" by his actions and called them "unacceptable and inexcusable."
On Tuesday, Jada Pinkett Smith shared the following statement to her Instagram: "This is a season for healing and I’m here for it."
This update from the Academy comes after issuing a statement Monday saying it was launching a "formal review" of the incident.
"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," the Academy said in a statement Monday.
According to its standards of conduct, the Academy is "categorically opposed to any form of abuse."
"If any member is found by the Academy to have violated these standards or to have compromised the integrity of the Academy by their actions -- whether in a professional or non-professional setting -- the Academy may take any disciplinary action permitted by the Academy’s Bylaws, up to and including suspension of membership or expulsion from membership," the Academy states in the document.
The confrontation occurred when Rock, who was presenting the Oscar for best documentary at the 94th Academy Awards, made a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, starring in a sequel to the 1997 film "G.I. Jane."
The movie featured its star, Demi Moore, with a shaved head as she depicted a character who was the first woman to enter Navy SEAL training. Rock made the joke because Pinkett Smith's head is shaved. Pinkett Smith has been open about having alopecia, an autoimmune disorder which results in hair loss.
After Rock made the joke, Smith walked onto the stage and slapped Rock. Smith returned to his seat and yelled at him twice, saying, "Keep my wife's name out your f------ mouth."
The incident, bleeped out in the televised broadcast, has led to a slew of takes on what transpired between Rock and Smith.
Smith later won the Oscar for best actor for his role in "King Richard." He apologized to the Academy and his fellow nominees in a tearful acceptance speech. He addressed the controversial moment indirectly but did not say Rock's name or apologize to him.
After the show, the Academy tweeted, "The Academy does not condone violence of any form. Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world."
The Los Angeles Police Department told ABC News it was aware of the altercation.
"LAPD investigative entities are aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards program. The incident involved one individual slapping another. The individual involved has declined to file a police report. If the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report," the statement read.
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