One of the most commonly asked questions that have arisen in the wake of Will Smith’s slapping of Chris Rock at Sunday’s Oscars ceremony was why wasn’t Smith told to leave the building?
The answer isn’t as clear as you’d expect however as mixed messages are coming from several corners. In a statement issued yesterday, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences said: “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.”
Subsequent reports in TMZ and Deadline indicate the request to leave was made to Smith’s publicist Meredith O’Sullivan after Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson spoke with her backstage. O’Sullivan then reportedly approached the actor with the suggestion, and he reportedly told her he wanted to stay and apologise according to those outlet’s sources.
However, there’s more to it. Variety indicates some Academy members allegedly expressed that they wanted Smith removed but no formal or explicit ask was ever made. The show’s producer Will Packer was seen conferring with Smith, but conflicting reports over what was said in that conversation have arisen.
Whatever happened, the Academy is investigating the incident further after the Board of Governors on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to do so. They have already issued a stern response saying Smith potentially faces “suspension, expulsion or other sanctions” for his actions at the next board meeting on April 18th.
In addition, the organisation formally apologised to Chris Rock, nominees, guests and viewers. Rock himself has done his first stand-up show since the incident, greeting a sold-out Boston crowd who gave him a three-minute standing ovation. Rock says he’s “still kinda processing what happened” and at some point will talk about it, but not for now.
Source: The Playlist
