The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will determine “appropriate action” against Will Smith after he slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, the group told its members in a letter obtained by NBC News.
In the letter, film academy president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson said the leaders of the nonprofit organization were “upset and outraged” that this year’s celebration of achievement in the film industry was “overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behavior on stage by a nominee.”
“The Academy’s Board of Governors will now make a determination on appropriate action for Mr. Smith,” they said, adding that the process “will take a few weeks.”
“We will continue to update you on any developments, but we also ask that you respect your Board, Academy staff and the process as this unfolds so it can work in the considered way it was intended and mandated,” they added.
The academy on Monday confirmed that it had started a “formal review” of the incident without providing any details on how that process would play out.
Smith, who won the best actor Oscar for the tennis drama “King Richard,” publicly apologized to Rock on Monday, saying in a statement that he was “out of line” and “embarrassed.”
“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive,” Smith said in a message posted Monday night on Instagram. “My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable.”
Smith slapped Rock after the stand-up comedian made a joke about the appearance of Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. He then returned to his seat in the Dolby Theatre and shouted: “Keep my wife’s name out of your f—–g mouth!”
Rock kept his composure after he was slapped, joking that it was the “greatest night in the history of television.” He declined to press charges, the Los Angeles Police Department said. He has not publicly addressed the incident, but he is slated to perform in Boston on Wednesday night.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
