Latest academy statement on Will Smith's slap stirs an internet uproar
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
The motion picture academy's announcement Wednesday that it had initiated disciplinary action against Will Smith after the actor slapped presenter Chris Rock during the live Oscars telecast Sunday was met with online responses that were swift and loud, although not as loud as the reaction to news that Smith had been asked to leave the ceremony — and refused.
"Plot thickens," Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney said wryly on Twitter.
More than anything, the internet was stunned that Smith had been asked to leave the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood after the assault, and that even after he refused, Smith was still given the Oscar for lead actor and allowed to make an acceptance speech all the same.
"I am used to impotent indecision from the academy leaders at this point. But the idea that they made the call decisively and then failed to execute it is almost the worst version of the story I can think of," tweeted entertainment journalist David Poland. "I guess throwing him a knife would have been worse."
"We would like to clarify that Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognize we could have handled the situation differently"
This might be even worse, if true or not exaggerated. The Academy made a decision, failed to execute it, then continued on?!?!
— David Poland (@DavidPoland) March 30, 2022
Others keyed in on the language in the academy's Wednesday statement, which was conspicuously ambiguous about who asked Smith to leave, and how. "While we would like to clarify that Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognize we could have handled the situation differently," the statement said.
Former Hollywood Reporter editor Matthew Belloni, now founding partner of pucknews.com, responded on Twitter by saying: "Suggesting to a publicist is NOT the same as the show producer or Academy president walking over and respectfully telling him what needs to happen."
After Smith was announced as the lead actor Oscar winner for his role in "King Richard," the actor gave a speech more than five minutes long. He apologized to the academy, his fellow nominees and others, but notably not to Rock. It wasn't until the next day that Smith called his actions "inexcusable" and apologized to Rock.
The academy did not specify what type of disciplinary action it might take, but as speculation ramped up online, so too did the number of people arguing that any disciplinary action might be seen as unfair, given the academy's track record. Questions of racial equity also were raised.
"The Academy is moving to expel its first Black actor to win the lead actor Academy Award in 15 years," writer Juwan Holmes speculated, suggesting that sexual harassers and domestic abusers within the academy's ranks received less scrutiny.
Film critic and writer Robert Daniels noted, "Lots of gum smacking from an organization that still counts Mel Gibson as a proud member."
Lots of gum smacking from an organization that still counts Mel Gibson as a proud member.
— Robert Daniels (@812filmreviews) March 30, 2022
David Dennis Jr., a senior writer at Andscape, added: "I don't think the Academy would ever recover if Will Smith is the first person stripped or severely punished by the board." He also joked: "If Chris Rock had known he would have rich white people rally around him like this he would have asked a Black person to slap him years ago."
I don't think the Academy would ever recover if Will Smith is the first person stripped or severely punished by the board
— David Dennis Jr. (@DavidDTSS) March 30, 2022
Steven Weintraub, editor-in-chief of Collider, wrote: "Had no idea Will Smith was asked to leave Oscar's after assaulting Chris Rock & he refused to go. He absolutely needs to be severely punished by @TheAcademy for what he did & what he refused to do. Since the Academy messes up every decision I'm assuming they will screw this up."
Had no idea Will Smith was asked to leave Oscar's after assaulting Chris Rock & he refused to go. He absolutely needs to be severely punished by @TheAcademy for what he did & what he refused to do. Since the Academy messes up every decision I'm assuming they will screw this up.
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) March 30, 2022
Los Angeles Times columnist Erika D. Smith found still more to critique in an academy statement just four paragraphs long.
"The academy called Smith's actions a 'deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness.' OK, again, not great behavior from Will Smith. But 'traumatic'? Watching footage of a police shooting is traumatic. Surely they mean 'dramatic.'"
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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Not a good look for these black entertainment media figures who are defending Will Smith on the basis of race. If they have people like me against them, they have the majority of America against them.
If there is one benefit that the academy might gain from this whole mess I'll bet next year's Academy Awards program will get a lot more viewers.
A few did not receive their Oscars on camera in order to cut the length of the show down. Smith needed to join those others. He should not have been given air time following the assault and his refusal to leave when told to do so.
I dont blame the Academy for letting him accept the award. It would have created a bigger uproar if they didnt. It is better to deal with this after the fact. I dont like people trying to make Smith the victim of some sort of racial animus either though.
Rock was being an asshole; some think it comes with the territory when they are a comedian. He made a piss poor joke about Jada's hair; then claimed he didn't know about her condition. Maybe he should have done some research first; or maybe he should chose different targets every time to spread the animus around.
Only wish Jada had been the one to hit him. She wouldn't have gone nearly as easy on Rock's skinny ass.
The classy thing would have been for Smith to leave with his wife after the joke was made; so that when his name was announced the camera could hit an empty chair. Leave the Academy to figure out why; and see who they decide to side with. A comedian making a joke that wasn't funny and in bad taste about Smith's wife; or an actor getting the recognition everyone claims he deserved and extending "diversity".
I like Will Smith as an actor (when he is not taking himself so seriously). The Men in Black Series; Independence Day; and even I am Legend. His more recent movies not nearly as much. Lost a lot of respect for him after this.
Never respected Rock. Just don't find him funny. So nothing lost there.
Ego all around.
"The Academy is moving to expel its first Black actor to win the lead actor Academy Award in 15 years," writer Juwan Holmes speculated, suggesting that sexual harassers and domestic abusers within the academy's ranks received less scrutiny." I don't remember anyone ever sexual harassing or abusing somebody at the Awards Ceremony. I've never been a supporter of taking awards or honors away from people who earned them for crimes or transgressions they committed at other places or later dates, but I can't for the life of me remember a time when the offense was actually committed at the time and place of the Award. It definitely changes my opinion on the matter although I would have been happier if the ushers had escorted him out. Then when his award came up, they could have said "Will was unable to make it tonight so we'll be mailing it to him". They were afraid to publicly shame Will Smith by kicking him out but that's exactly what needed to be done and it would have been better for everyone involved including Will Smith. Every Normal American knows they would have gotten dragged from the Theater if they had so much as thrown popcorn at Chris Rock. So it's bewildering for most Americans to watch Will Smith get rewarded and applauded on the same stage on which that he had criminally assaulted Chris Rock a half hour earlier.
Agree. Us peons would be in jail.
Do you think if I slapped Will Smith he would forgive me ?
I see this whole thing as the hypocritical so called elite getting away with things no one else could.
Imo bringing race into it is a lame excuse.