Academy Responds to Will Smith Slap With ‘Formal Review,’ Insiders Reveal What Happened Behind the Scenes
The Academy is responding to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock is at the 2022 Oscars by launching a “formal review” of the incident, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Monday, March 28.
“The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night’s show,” reads the statement, per Deadline. “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.”
This is the Academy’s first official statement on the matter aside from a Sunday night tweet that read, “The Academy does not condone violence of any form.”
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 Academy (@TheAcademy) March 28, 2022
The review could lead to Smith losing his AMPAS membership or a suspension from the organization and its events, according to AMPAS rules. The AMPAS Standards of Conduct initiative was updated in 2018 after Harvey Weinstein was expelled from the organization in response to the sexual assault allegations against him. At the time, Academy CEO Dawn Hudson sent an email to members with instructions on how to report workplace misconduct, according to Deadline.
The email detailed the AMPAS rules on breach of conduct that would prompt a review, including “physical contact that is uninvited and, in the situation, inappropriate and unwelcome, or coercive sexual attention” as well as “Intimidation, stalking, abusive or threatening behavior, or bullying.”
The statement continued to note that “sanctions issued under this policy that are less severe than suspension or expulsion of membership may include private reprimand, public reprimand, temporary or permanent loss of privileges to attend and participate in Academy events or activities” and more.
Once it was clear the slap was not staged, viewers on Twitter questioned why Smith wasn’t ejected from the ceremony. Insiders told Variety that the reaction backstage was that of shock as well, and it took a while to figure out what to do next. By the time reported discussions of escorting Smith out of the ceremony had any kind of theoretical plan, Smith had already been announced as the Best Actor winner.
Another source told Variety that the Oscars didn’t want the optics of Smith being kicked out of the ceremony when he was up for a top honor, especially when his actions were in defense of his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Rock’s G.I. Jane comment about Pinkett Smith’s hair, Variety reports, was improvised — not written on the teleprompter. The Red Table Talk host shaved her head in response to her experiences with alopecia, which is what is said to have caused such a strong reaction from the Smiths.
Smith apologized for his conduct in his King Richard acceptance speech, saying “Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things,” and adding, “I hope the Academy invites me back.” Rock opted not to press charges against Smith.
Black people have a defiant spirit of laughter when it comes to dealing with pain because there has been so much of it. I don’t feel the need to elucidate that for you. But I also don’t mind being transparent and say that this was a very painful moment for me. On many levels. https://t.co/zzgeKIqrHm
— Will Packer (@willpowerpacker) March 28, 2022
In response to the controversy, Oscars producer Will Packer called the incident between Smith and Rock “a very painful moment.” This comment comes after the producer initially tweeted “Welp…I said it wouldn’t be boring” when the broadcast concluded. The tweet prompted criticism from one user.
“Making jokes about an assault that happened during your show isn’t the congratulatory message you think it is,” the tweet read.
“Black people have a defiant spirit of laughter when it comes to dealing with pain because there has been so much of it,” Packer responded. “I don’t feel the need to elucidate that for you. But I also don’t mind being transparent and say that this was a very painful moment for me. On many levels.”
