The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences on Wednesday said that Will Smith was asked to leave SundayB次元官网网址檚 Oscar ceremony after hitting Chris Rock but refused to do so.
The academyB次元官网网址檚 board of governors met Wednesday to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violations against the groupB次元官网网址檚 standards of conduct. The academy said disciplinary action for Smith could include suspension, expulsion or other sanctions.
Many have focused on why Smith was allowed to remain seated front row in the Dolby Theatre after the incident. On Wednesday, the academy suggested that it attempted to remove the actor from the audience.
B次元官网网址淭hings unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated,B次元官网网址� the academy said. B次元官网网址淲hile 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.B次元官网网址�
A representative for the academy declined to give specifics on how it tried to removed Smith. After Smith struck Rock in response to a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, several stars including Denzel Washington, Bradley Cooper and Tyler Perry spoke with the 53-year-old Smith.
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The academy said Smith has the opportunity to defend himself in a written response before the board meets again on April 18. The film academy earlier condemned SmithB次元官网网址檚 onstage assault of Rock, but it used stronger language Wednesday.
B次元官网网址淢r. SmithB次元官网网址檚 actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television,B次元官网网址� the academy said. B次元官网网址淢r. Rock, we apologize to you for what you experienced on our stage and thank you for your resilience in that moment. We also apologize to our nominees, guests and viewers for what transpired during what should have been a celebratory event.B次元官网网址�
On Monday, Smith issued an apology to Rock, the academy and to viewers, saying B次元官网网址淚 was out of line and I was wrong.B次元官网网址�
Rock, who had yet to respond publicly to the incident, performed stand-up Wednesday night in Boston. He was greeted by a thunderous standing ovation.
B次元官网网址淗ow was your weekend?B次元官网网址� began Rock who then cautioned the crowd that he didnB次元官网网址檛 have a lot to say yet about the Oscars, according to audio posted by the Hollywood trade outlet Variety. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 still kind of processing what happenedB次元官网网址�
A representative for Smith didnB次元官网网址檛 immediately respond to messages Wednesday regarding the academyB次元官网网址檚 latest moves.
Only a very small number of academy members have ever been expelled, including Harvey Weinstein, Roman Polanski, Bill Cosby and the actor Carmine Caridi, who was kicked out for sharing awards screeners.
Whoopi Goldberg, a member of the academyB次元官网网址檚 board of governors, said Monday on B次元官网网址淭he View,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not going to take that Oscar from him.B次元官网网址� (Even Oscars won by expelled members havenB次元官网网址檛 previously been ordered to be returned.) Goldberg added that B次元官网网址渘obody is OK with what happenedB次元官网网址�
Others from SundayB次元官网网址檚 telecast also began speaking out. Co-host Wanda Sykes told Ellen DeGeneres in an interview to air April 7 that she felt physically ill after Smith slapped Rock. When he returned to his seat, Smith twice shouted at Rock to B次元官网网址渒eep my wifeB次元官网网址檚 name out your (expletive) mouth.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 still a little traumatized by it,B次元官网网址� said Sykes in a clip released Wednesday.
Within an hour, Smith was back on stage accepting the award for best actor for his performance in B次元官网网址淜ing Richard.B次元官网网址� Many in the Dolby Theatre gave him a standing ovation.
B次元官网网址淚 was like, how gross is this? This is the wrong message. You assault somebody and you get escorted out the building and thatB次元官网网址檚 it. But for them to let him continue, I thought it was gross,B次元官网网址� Sykes said. B次元官网网址淚 wanted to be able to run out (on stage) after he won and say, B次元官网网址楿h, unfortunately, Will couldnB次元官网网址檛 be here tonight.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�
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