Oscars 2022: The Academy Speaks Out After Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock

The Academy is speaking out after Will Smith went viral, slapping comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. The moment came just after Rock had taken a dig at Will’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, saying, “Jada, I love ya. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it.” (Pinkett Smith has been open about her struggles with alopecia, an autoimmune disorder which causes bald spots and hair loss.) Moments later, Smith walked onto the stage and gave Rock an open-handed slap to his cheek. Smith then walked offstage and cursed at Rock from his seat, yelling, “Leave my wife’s name out of your f**king mouth.”

Shortly after, Smith took home his first-ever Oscar for his leading role in King Richard, and took a moment to apologize to The Academy. 

“I want to apologize to the Academy, I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees,” he said during his speech. “Art imitates life, I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams. Love will make you do crazy things…. Thank you to the Academy, I hope you will have me back.”

As for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization’s official account tweeted following the incident. 

“The Academy does not condone violence of any form,” it wrote. “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.”

Oscar producer Will Packer also tweeted, writing, “Welp…I said it wouldn’t be boring #Oscars.”

Many people took to Twitter to call out the Academy for their tweet, calling it hypocritical after Smith won the Oscar moments after the incident and there was no visible sign of any repercussions for Smith’s behavior. 

Comedian Rosie O’Donnell replied to the Academy’s tweet, writing, “Then why did you do NOTHING?”

Neither Rock nor Smith has directly spoken about the incident. The LAPD told ET that Rock has declined to to file a police report at this time. 

For more coverage of the 2022 Oscars, keeping checking back with ETonline.

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