UPDATE (March 30): The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Wednesday, March 30 released a statement saying Will Smith was asked to leave the Oscars after slapping Chris Rock while Rock was presenting during Sunday’s ceremony, according to Variety. But the group says Smith refused to leave. The Academy previously responded to an inquiry Tuesday saying the incident was under investigation, but not revealing that Smith was asked to leave.
The Dolby Theatre, where the Academy Awards ceremony was held Sunday night, has a policy stating, “Disruptions are not tolerated. If anyone disturbs the audience or interferes with the performance, the patron will be required to leave with no refund forthcoming.”
The facility did not immediately respond to two emails and a voicemail seeking comment Monday as to why Will Smith was not removed from the venue after slapping Chris Rock, who at the time was performing during the ceremony.
The slap came after Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who has a shaved head. The actress has publicly talked about having alopecia, an autoimmune disorder that leads to hair loss.
While presenting the award for best documentary, Rock said, “Jada I love you, ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it.”
In the 1997 film “G.I. Jane,” the star of the movie, Demi Moore, has a shaved head.
The broadcast then cut to Smith chuckling as Pinkett Smith rolled her eyes.
“That was a nice one,” Rock said, appearing to respond to the joke not going over well.
“Uh, oh,” Rock then said and laughed as Smith walked toward him on stage and slapped Rock on the face.
Smith later received a standing ovation while accepting the Academy Award for best actor for his performance in the film “King Richard.”
“The Academy does not condone violence of any form,” the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts, and Sciences tweeted Sunday night.
On Monday afternoon, the organization issued a statement condemning Smith’s behavior, CNN reported. It responded to inquiries from Discrepancy Report with the same message.
“The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night’s show,” the statement said. “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.”
On Monday evening Smith apologized in an Instagram post, which says:
Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.
I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.
I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us.
I am a work in progress.
Instagram Post by Will Smith
Meanwhile, Eisner Gorin, LLP, a prominent criminal defense law firm in Los Angeles, says, “Victims don’t decide when charges are filed in a criminal case.”
It’s consistent with statements from other lawyers.
“In less serious cases, the officers defer to the victims more,” Dmitry Gorin, a partner at Eisner Gorin, told Discrepancy Report. “It is a judgment call for law enforcement when the victim does not want to press charges. On the other hand, with significant injury cases as in domestic violence or sex crimes, the police will be more aggressive, and seek filing of charges even if the victim does not want to prosecute.”
Regarding the incident, the Los Angeles Police Department issued the following statement:
LAPD investigative entities are aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards program. The incident involved one individual slapping another. The individual involved has declined to file a police report. If the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report.
Statement from the Los Angeles Police Department
