Can Will Smith Really Lose The Oscar For Slapping Chris Rock?
Just when we thought the Oscars have now become boring, Will Smith slapping Chris Rock moment happened on live TV and they broadcasted it. The entire incident divided the world into two parts: Pro Will Smith and Pro Chris Rock.
What made the incident more shocking was the fact that just after it, Will Smith won the Best Actor award for his role in King Richards. This didn’t sit well with many and some people raised the question of whether Will Smith still deserved the Oscar after the “assault” and if they would ask him to return it back? This also raised hopes for Andrew Garfield’s fans who feel he would still win it.
What exactly happened?
Damn. So did Will Smith just punch Chris Rock for real? Here is a Japanese network’s uncensored exchange between Will Smith and Chris Rock. #Oscars #WillSmith pic.twitter.com/fjqgypVdue
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) March 28, 2022
The whole incident happened when Chris Rock was out on the stage to present the award for Best Documentary. Will Smith and his wife Jada Smith were sitting in the front during that time and Rock made a joke about her bald look. He jokingly said that she could be in the G.I.Jane 2.
While many viewers didn’t find it offensive, some certainly did. The reason is that Jada had to change her hair after she struggled with the “autoimmune” disorder alopecia. Though Will did seem to be laughing, it looked like it took a while for him to understand what it meant. He stormed on the stage and SLAPPED Chris Rock. Returning to his seat, Will shouted “Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth.”
Many people pointed out that there was a deeper joke behind it. Demi Moore had played GI Jane and she also cheated on her husband with a younger man. And that sort of instigated Will Smith more than it should have. And everyone has been making jokes and fun of their marriage and now he probably had enough. Another fan also pointed out that Jada and Chris Rock had even dated so this could have frustrated Will more.
What happened next?
Well, Will Smith was taken aside by Denzel Washington who gave him some advice on his behavior. Bradley Cooper hugged him as well. He went on to win the Oscar for Best Actor for his part in King Richard. And literally, everyone was shocked that he still won the award after that incident.
In his speech, Will Smith did apologize to everyone and the Academy. He even took his social media to publicly and personally apologize to Chris Rock.
So will the Oscar be taken from Smith?
Oscar’s Code of Conduct was released back in 2017 and at that time AMPAS CEO Dawn Hudson had said that everyone must behave ethically.
She had said, “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. 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.”
But the situation is still unclear. There aren’t any particular guidelines on these events and neither has Academy ever revoked an award once it was given.
So it is unlikely that they would ask Will Smith to give back his award.