(Updated with more details) Just hours before Chris Rock is set to take the stage in Boston tonight, Will Smith’s fate from the actor’s rage-filled slap of the comic at Sunday’s Oscars is now resting in his own hands after a meeting by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors this afternoon.
“Consistent with the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, as well as California law, Mr. Smith is being provided at least 15 days’ notice of a vote regarding his violations and sanctions, and the opportunity to be heard beforehand by means of a written response” said the Academy today of the “disciplinary proceedings” it has begun after a virtual gathering of the dozens of Governors and other AMPAS aides concluded. “At the next board meeting on April 18, the Academy may take any disciplinary action, which may include suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions permitted by the Bylaws and Standards of Conduct.” (See the full statement below)
Unsurprisingly, the vote was overwhelming among the nearly 50 Governors to pursue the matter further
Truly surprising, the Academy is now revealing that the now Best Actor winner was actually requested to exit the Dolby Theater after striking Rock over a crack about Jada Pinkett-Smith’s hair. A request the King Richard star distinctly declined.
“While 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,” the Academy said of the disturbing incident at the Will Packer produced 94th Academy Awards.
Though Smith was seen talking with Denzel Washington, Bradley Cooper and Tyler Perry almost right after slapping and screaming at Rock, it was actually a member of the Academy’s top leadership that sought to have the former Fresh Prince exit, I hear. In a move to avoid another blow-up, the request was not made to Smith directly, but through the actor’s flacks, it seems.
A number of the Board of Governors, which include Stephen Spielberg, past Oscar host Whoopi Goldberg and Participant CEO David Linde, at today’s virtual meeting did not know about Smith being asked to leave on Sunday. “It was a real shocker,” one insider close to the situation told Deadline of the revelation.
In the minutes and hours right after the assault of Rock, Oscar organizers and producers took a lot of flak for seemingly allowing Smith to stay in his front to seat next to Pinkett-Smith. The apparent paralysis was further exacerbated by the odds-on favored nominee having a near full 45-minutes to sit there before his win in the Best Actor category was unveiled.
In his long and tear streaked acceptance speech, Smith made contrasts between his behavior and that of Richard Williams, father of the legendary Venus and Serena, to take care and protect his family. While apologizing to the Academy and others — as well as requesting to invited back — Smith said nada about or to Rock.
Even with the news of the failed request on March 27, coming three days after the Slap Heard Round the World still reverberates Wednesday’s Board of Governors gathering was always going to be about what to do next, not bringing down the hammer. “Expect this to more C-Span than CNN,” one participant told Deadline before today’s digital sit-down.
Being a bureaucratic entity that it is, the board will need some time to figure out its next moves – as the Academy noted in its press release late Tuesday and in today’s statement.
AMPAS cold also will notify other parties related to the incident – but Rock won’t be asked to participate. Another topic is whether the police will be involved. The Academy could decide to press charges against Smith, even though Rock declined to do file a police report after being contacted by the LAPD on March 27
READ THE FULL STATEMENT ON WILL. SMITH FROM AMPAS HERE:
The Board of Governors today initiated disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, including inappropriate physical contact, abusive or threatening behavior, and compromising the integrity of the Academy.
Consistent with the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, as well as California law, Mr. Smith is being provided at least 15 days’ notice of a vote regarding his violations and sanctions, and the opportunity to be heard beforehand by means of a written response. At the next board meeting on April 18, the Academy may take any disciplinary action, which may include suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions permitted by the Bylaws and Standards of Conduct.
Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television. Mr. 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.
Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated. While 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.
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