American actor and producer, Will Smith is in the epicenter of a controversy that erupted after he slapped fellow actor Chris Rock on the stage of Oscars 2022.
Will Smith, who holds the numerous US and international box office records lost his cool when Chris cracked a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald look.
Will Smith won the Best Actor Award at the 94th Academy Awards held yesterday on 27th March 2022 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
After the altercation, there are several reports recommending that he will land himself in a legal problem. Some social media users were also of the opinion that Smith might even lose his Oscar as The Academy has a strict code of conduct policy.
What will happen to Will Smith Oscar Award after he slapped Chris Rock?
Some industry insiders opine that Will Smith may be asked to return his Best Actor award following his live onstage altercation with Chris Rock.
Have you also been curious to know what would happen with Will Smith’s Oscar?
Well, if yes, read on as we will cover everything you need to know about the Oscars code of conduct and what is the probability of the actor losing his Oscar.
What is The Academy’s code of conduct?
After the sexual misconduct scandal that involved the who’s who of the film fraternity in 2017, The Academy’s conduct code was released whose primary focus was to give importance to “upholding the Academy’s values”, like inclusion, fostering supportive environments, and “respect for human dignity”.
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) CEO Dawn Hudson wrote back then, “In addition to achieving excellence in the field of motion picture arts and sciences, members must also behave ethically by upholding the Academy’s values of respect for human dignity, inclusion, and a supportive environment that fosters creativity. There is no place in the Academy for people who abuse their status, power or influence in a manner that violates recognized standards of decency.”
Academy just sent a note to members saying its board approved the attached code of conduct. Allegations of noncompliance will be handled through a process that will not be unveiled/determined until next year. Process will “guide” Academy on whether allegations “warrant action” pic.twitter.com/3zxrJvfwC6
— Brooks Barnes (@brooksbarnesNYT) December 7, 2017
She added, “The Academy is categorically opposed to any form of abuse, harassment or discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, age, religion, or nationality. The Board of Governors believes that these standards are essential to the Academy’s mission and reflective of our values”
However, there is no official statement yet from AMPAS at the time of writing this article about the next plan of action after this incident.
Will the actor lose his oscar?
The Academy released its official statement on Twitter saying, “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 (sic).”
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
Many Twitter users pointed out that the Academy has strict guidelines against cases like these. Given the fact that this was “basically assault”, the majority of the users are under the belief that Will Smith might be asked to hand over his award.
According to one highly placed Hollywood source, “It’s basically assault. Everyone was just so shocked in the room, it was so uncomfortable. I think Will would not want to give his Oscar back, but who knows what will happen now.”
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) informed that they are aware of the incident and as of now Chris Rock is not willing to file a complaint against Will Smith.
What are your thoughts on the whole controversy? Share in our comments section below!
It was very disappointing, watching a grown man behave like a child in the school yard. I’ve lost respect for Will Smith. If he didn’t like the joke, he should have had the grace and dignity to talk to Chris about it after, not turn the event into his personal bar-room brawl. Chris was poised and composed, albeit shaken, even after being attacked and made Will Smith look like a common thug. We cannot have a world where a member of the audience can walk up on stage and assualt a performer or presenter without consequence. Mr. Smith should have been removed from the theater by security. Now, at the very least, the Academy needs to revoke his award for that awful, public display of uncontrollable anger, unprofessionalism and disrespect for another person’s trade (Chris Rock is, after all, a comedian, and Will Smith did laugh at the GI Jane comment).
Agree with Christine 100%. All attendees esp the stars should expect jokes that was the norm at the Oscar’s. Not everyone agrees to the jokes but no one has slapped or physically hurt the host or presenter. This was clearly an assault and Will just opened up another avenue for people to hurt another human being, i.e comedians.
There should be a consequence regardless of your skin color, gender or status. The Academy needs to do something and act on this asap. Posting tweets or messages is not the way.
That’s is his wife, would you want somebody disrespect your wife.
Rather if it was an joke not, sometimes comedian
talked bout other people or peoples individual isn’t funny they go just an little to far when it is not funny
Being that his wife is sick and has too shave her head he should never Saud what he did.Yes he dud get violent but who wouldn’t for someone they love that is ill.Protecting a person you love can bring lots of anger.She probably crystal too him all the time over her hair.Women feel less without there hair.I lost mine at a time in my life as well.Being it was in the code of conduct rules anything that has too do with a disease.Like she is battling.No they shouldn’t hold will Smith accountable.
Sorry she probably crys too him about her hair.***
I agree with Christine He should have waited after the show was over to talk to the man There was no reason for that I don’t believe in violence He showed his true color Will Smith
What kind of message does it send if the Academy does nothing about this? An hypocritical one. Will made a conscious decision to get up out of his chair, walk to the stage and assault Chris, all over a stupid joke. Was the joke in bad taste? Absolutely. Did Chris deserve that response from Will? Absolutely not. Will had at least 10 seconds to catch himself and say “this probably isn’t a good idea”, but chose to go ahead with it, with the mindset that nothing will happen because he’s a big deal tonight. Well, something SHOULD happen, because there are consequences of your actions, no matter who you are. If the Academy does not do anything, they are basically saying it’s ok. And it’s definitely not ok.
No one has said this but what Mr. Smith has done has just hurt his wife more than the one second remark Mr. Rock made. Smith now has everyone talking about his wife and her alopecia all over the world. She is the brunt of more discussions than ever before because of his actions. Her privacy is being invaded as we speak. Her medical problems out in the open even though she has shared it are known by everyone. People need to think about the consequences of their actions and face the consequences of those actions. A lot of hurt that was not necessary. No one thought through their actions.
Will Smith has lost a fan. He should have been arrested for assault on the spot. The children whose father he played were in the audience, and there were other children watching the broadcast.
He and Jada are public figures, and Chris Rock is a stand-up comic. According to the Supreme Court, what Chris did was fair game. With all of Will and Jada’s past drama, like having an open marriage and infidelity, the joke could have been a lot worst. It really was not that bad of a joke.
My biggest disappointment was how Will received all the sympathy from the actors in the audience. Denzel and others made it look like Chris committed the assault. Where are we as a society where the abuser gets the sympathy.
I agree with you.
I read your article, I checked your links, I even looked for the “standards of conduct for members” you listed from the tweet by “BrooksBarnesnyt” from 2017. It is not publicly available, and does not appear to be listed on the site. So, technically there is no reference to a code of conduct. By the way, the Academy has not revoked Harvey Weinstein’s awards yet either.. So, I doubt anything is going to happen here. I think we should be focused on these 2 academy members setting an example and reconciling their differences, in private or public, and then making a joint public statement.
It’s assault and battery. Assault is the threat, battery is the action ( slap ).
Will Smith laughed at the joke, until Jada rolled her eyes! He had no business putting his hands on Chris Rock because of a joke he initially laughed at! That is assault pure and simple! Where was security? Then they allowed him to get his Oscar and make a speech. Boo Hoo him for crying, cause he knows it was so wrong!
If any ordinary member of the public did what will did they would have been arrested sent to court etc etc
Apparently will has been dabbling with stand up comedy lately I assume if I don’t like one of his jokes I’m free to jump on stage and slap him before returning to my seat with no consequences….
I think they should take he award and distroy he contract!
Cause he knew better!
That there were going too be some joke’s being said!
Especially if you knew who was going too be the host!
Cause himself is a comedian himself!
Did he forgit about!
No repect for the men!
He should have save it till the show was over and confront it too him!
But i still say he should just stay out of the spotlight for that evening!
Yes first he took it as funny!
Till he sell he’s wife roll’s her eye’s!
You just disrespected yourself!
Will remind myself not too follow your movie’s or what ever you do!
Git right with GOD!
Cause with GOD!
You would not have been there where you at!
Remember GOD!
Come first then your arrogant!
So long!
Rock made a documentary about “black” women’s hair. Jada being diagnosed with alopecia and speaking about it on public television articles on social media. At grocery store newspapers… Rocks joke was supppse to be positive as
“on the bright side” jokie joke highlighting jada GI jane 2 choice to shave opposed to being forced to live without hair intentionally throws shade then says afterwards “yeah that was a nice one” ACTING like he had no idea of televised media of jada expressing sadness about alopecia. Rock knew because everybody knows that has a tv or smartphone. Knowing this info made the joke distasteful and bullying. Then recognizing the slyness of the jokie joke saying ” yeah it was nice one” about his own joke is reason chris doesn’t want to press charges. His intentions knowing about alopecia diagnosis faking like he didnt makes him feel guilty if this wasnt all staged. He knew Jada had alopecia. He thought he got a sly one off saying that was a nice one laughed and made it feel cruel negating passively alopecia diagnosis. If the academy don’t condone wills smack then they should not condone bullying either. Comedy being the art of making people laugh about every day stuff seems off balance whenever it targets an individual highlighting their insecurities while a room full of people laugh too All seems like bullying to me when people are offended.
I do not condone Will Smith’s actions at all. I am curious about any concern about the environs for Jada because of Chris’ comment … what about the Academy’s code of conduct could and quite possibly should be applied to his “funny/not so funny” comments directed at Jada … “jokes” directed at others is offensive, hurtful and embarrassing.” The MC’s/hosts should be held to a higher standard that’s in line with the Academy’s stated By Laws on code of conduct. C’mon you are better than that.