The Academy of Oscars announced on Monday that it had opened a “investigation” on the incident which occurred the day before during the gala evening, during which the actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock after a joke about his wife’s cropped hair.
“Academy condemns Mr. Smith’s actions on last night’s show“, writes the organization in a statement sent to AFP. “We have officially started an investigation into this incident.“, specifies the Academy which will examine the follow-up to be given with regard to its “regulations and California law“.
It was a joke by Chris Rock about the shaved head of Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith’s wife who suffered from alopecia – a disease causing severe hair loss, which she revealed to be suffering from a few years ago – that sparked the ‘scandal.
Will Smith then goes on stage and slaps him. “Leave my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth!”, launches the 53-year-old actor twice, once back in his chair.
Que risque Will Smith?
What is the risk of the actor, crowned a little later “best actor” for his role in “The Williams Method”? Some have called on the Academy of Oscars to withdraw her award, but actress Whoopi Goldberg, one of the Academy’s administrators, said that would not be the case.
“There will be consequences, I’m sure, but I don’t think that’s what they’re going to do, especially because Chris” Rock said he wouldn’t press charges, she told TV.
On the criminal level either, no prosecution seems possible at this stage for lack of a complaint from Chris Rock, the Los Angeles police had indicated on Sunday evening.
Will Smith would therefore only expose himself to disciplinary sanctions, which can range according to the code of conduct of the Academy from a simple reprimand to expulsion.
The first punishment inflicted on the actor came from social networks, where many denounced the violence he showed.