Last night, actor Will Smith violently attacked comedian Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
In 2018, Jada Pinkett Smith was diagnosed with alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss. Rock made a joke about her starring in the next ‘G.I Jane’ movie, which starred a woman who joined the military and shaved her head to serve.
Will Smith initially appeared to laugh at the joke and a preceding joke about his wife’s infidelity in their marriage. Then, he approached Chris Rock on stage and slapped him across the face.
UNCENSORED EXTENDED VERSION of Will Smith smacking Chris Rock from Japanese TV https://t.co/s9BZoRyrrm
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 28, 2022
After apologizing on stage when he went up to accept his award, where he did not mention Chris Rock by name, Smith spent the rest of the night celebrating at the Oscars afterparty. Videos from the Vanity Fair Oscar Party show him dancing with fellow celebrities just hours after the now-viral attack on Chris Rock.
Will Smith is celebrating and dancing to his own hits at the Vanity Fair #Oscars party – via @nekesamumbi pic.twitter.com/c118DPVPjk
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) March 28, 2022
Smith’s victory lap may not last very long, however, as some have speculated that he could lose his Oscar after the violent outburst.
The New York Post Reports–
“Will Smith may be asked to hand back his Best Actor statuette following his live onstage assault of Chris Rock, industry insiders told The Post.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which handed out awards Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, has strict guidelines in its code of conduct.
One highly placed Hollywood source told The Post after the incident: “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,” the insider said.
Meanwhile, the Academy cryptically announced from its official Twitter account: “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.”
After a 2017 sexual misconduct scandal that racked Hollywood, the Academy released a statement clarifying its code of conduct that could very well apply to last nights events.
“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. “
She added: “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.”