This is the image that everyone retains of this Oscar ceremony. Will Smith’s slap to Chris Rock has gone around the world, and the Academy of Oscars has just reacted to announce that a formal investigation was to be launched.
Sunday night at the Oscars, it’s an altercation during which Will Smith slapped Chris Rock for a joke on Jada Pinkett Smith, his wife, which captured all the attention, in an evening nevertheless full of surprises and festive moments .
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Oscars 2022: Will Smith slaps Chris Rock in the middle of the ceremony, viewers stunned
An attack following which the Academy of the Oscars had to react. After explaining that it “does not tolerate any form of violence”, the institution published a press release in which it announced that it was going to open a “formal investigation” into the conduct of the actor.
The Academy marked by the Weinstein affair
“The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith on last night’s broadcast. We have officially launched a formal investigation into the incident and will explore further actions and consequences in accordance with our bylaws, standards of conduct and California law,” she said in a statement, relayed in particular by the LA Times.
Especially since thehe Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences adopted a code of conduct for its members in 2017 following the sexual harassment scandal targeting influential American producer Harvey Weinstein.
She said then: “There is no place in the Academy for people who abuse their status, power or influence in a way that violates recognized standards of decency. If a member is recognized by the Board of Governors as having violated these standards or as having compromised the integrity of the Academy through its actions, the Board of Governors may take any disciplinary action authorized by the Academy’s statutes, including suspension or expulsion.”
Forgiveness or punishment?
In tears less than an hour after punching Chris Rock, Will Smith was cheered on by many at the Dolby Theater when he won the Lead Actor Oscar for ‘King Richard.’ But he could still be punished.
Visibly scarred by what had just happened, he apologized to the academy and his fellow nominees, expressing his hope that the academy would “invite him back”. In view of his statements published in the press release, there is reason to doubt it.
