Will Smith May Be in Hot Trouble After Slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars

It was the slap heard around the world and launched a viral frenzy online with millions of people reacting.

Will Smith took the stage at the 2022 Oscars and slapped Chris Rock after Rock made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett’s hair.

While some fans side with Smith for defending his wife over her alopecia condition, many others believe he was way out of line.

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences said on Monday that it condemns the actions of Will Smith during Sunday night’s Oscars and it will launch a formal review of his slapping Rock.

In a statement Monday, the film academy said: “The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night’s show. We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our bylaws, standards of conduct and California law.”

What was the joke that started the mayhem? Rock said, “Jada, I love you. ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it.”

Pinkett Smith, whose head is shaved, has spoken publicly about her alopecia diagnosis. She looked visibly upset after the comment, which prompted Smith to go up on stage.

Once back in his seat, Smith twice shouted for Rock to “get my wife’s name out your (expletive) mouth.”

Ironically, within an hour, Smith won best actor. During his acceptance speech, Smith apologized to the academy.

The Los Angeles Police Department said Sunday that the person involved had declined to file a police report.

Writer-producer Marshall Herskovitz, called for the academy to take disciplinary action against Smith.

“He disgraced our entire community tonight,” wrote Herskovitz on Twitter.

Whoopi Goldberg, a member of the Academy’s board of governors, said Monday on “The View”: “We’re not going to take that Oscar from him. There will be consequences, I’m sure.”

Smith took to social media on Monday to formally apologize to Chris Rock for slapping him during Sunday’s Academy Award ceremony, calling his behavior “unacceptable and inexcusable.”

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