Academy: Will Smith broke code of conduct, was asked but refused to leave ceremony
This browser does not support the video element.
By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
LOS ANGELES — Will Smith broke the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ code of conduct, the organization said in a statement on Wednesday. The actor, who walked on stage and appeared to slap Chris Rock after the comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife during Sunday night’s Academy Awards ceremony, was asked but refused to leave the ceremony, The Associated Press reported.
“The Board of Governors today initiated disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy’s standards of conduct, including inappropriate physical contact, abusive or threatening behavior, and compromising the integrity of the Academy,” the statement said.
Smith was given 15 days’ notice of a vote regarding his violations and possible sanctions and has the chance to provide a written response, the Academy said in its statement. The next board meeting is scheduled for April 18, Variety reported.
The board held the emergency meeting to discuss possible consequences for the actor, according to the entertainment site.
“Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated,” the academy said in its statement. “While 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.”
A representative for the academy declined to say how it attempted to remove Smith from the ceremony, the AP reported.
Rock, a presenter at the Academy Awards, was awarding an Oscar for best documentary feature, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
He was confronted by Smith after the actor reacted negatively to the comedian’s “G.I. Jane 2″ joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, according to the AP. Smith walked onstage and appeared to strike Rock.
Pinkett Smith has a shaved head and suffers from alopecia, a hair-loss condition, according to the AP.
After returning to his seat in the audience, Smith shouted, “Keep my wife’s name out of your (expletive) mouth,” Variety reported.
“Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television,” the academy said in its statement. “Mr. Rock, we apologize to you for what you experienced on our stage and thank you for your resilience in that moment. We also apologize to our nominees, guests and viewers for what transpired during what should have been a celebratory event.”
Smith, who later won an Oscar for best actor for his role in “King Richard,” returned to the stage and apologized to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences during his acceptance speech, the AP reported.
“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive,” Smith said in a statement. “My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable.”
A representative for Smith did not immediately respond to messages Wednesday about the academy’s statement, the AP reported.
Through the years Photo of Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images (Michael Ochs Archives)
Through the years THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR -- Season 5 -- Pictured: Will Smith as William 'Will' Smith -- Photo by: Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank (NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Through the years 1998 Will Smith Stars In The Movie "Enemy Of The State." (Photo By Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Will Smith On The Set Of "The Legend Of Bagger Vance", 2000. (Photo By Getty Images) (Getty Images/Getty Images)
Through the years Actors Ron Silver, Will Smith and Jamie Foxx film a scene in the upcoming movie "Ali" taken in February 2001 in Los Angeles, CA. Smith portrays boxer Muhammad Ali while Silver and Foxx portray Angelo Dundee and Drew "Bundini" Brown. (Photo by Peter Brandt/Getty Images) (Peter Brandt/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Will Smith attends a press conference to promote the film "I, Robot" September 7, 2004 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images) (Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)
Through the years Hosts Will Smith (L) and Jada Pinkett Smith arrive at the BET Awards 05 at the Kodak Theatre on June 28, 2005 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Will Smith attends the 'I Am Legend' photocall at the Hassler Hotel on January 9, 2008 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Elisabetta Villa/Getty Images) (Elisabetta Villa/Getty Images)
Through the years Hosts Will and Jada Pinkett Smith speak onstage at the BET Awards 05 at the Kodak Theatre on June 28, 2005 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Will Smith, his son Jaden and wife Jada Pinkett Smith attend a charity lunch in aid of The Prince's Trust prior to the UK premiere this evening of "The Pursuit of Happyness" at the Dorchester Hotel on January 8, 2007 in London, England. (Photo by Claire Greenway/Getty Images) (Claire Greenway/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Will Smith poses with Abby, the dog from "I Am Legend" as he is honored with a hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre December 10, 2007 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Will Smith accepts his award for Best Male Performance during the 17th Annual MTV Movie Awards held at the Gibson Amphitheatre on June 1, 2008 in Universal City, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Will Smith poses with his children Willow Smith and Jaden Smith at "The Day The Earth Stood Still" Premiere at AMC Loews Lincoln Square on December 9, 2008 in New York City (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for 20th Century Fox) (Stephen Lovekin)
Through the years Actor Will Smith attends "Seven Pounds" photocall at Teatro Real on January 13, 2009 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images) (Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images)
Through the years Actors Jamie Foxx (L) and Will Smith arrive at the premiere of Paramount Pictures' "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never" held at Nokia Theater L.A. Live on February 8, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years Actors Will Smith (L) and Alfonso Ribeiro pose at the after party for the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' "Focus" at the W Hotel on February 24, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years Margot Robbie and Will Smith attend the European Premiere of "Suicide Squad" at the Odeon Leicester Square on August 3, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Through the years (L-R) Actors Trey Smith and Jaden Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, singer Willow Smith and actor Will Smith attend the Environmental Media Association 26th Annual EMA Awards Presented By Toyota, Lexus And Calvert at Warner Bros. Studios on October 22, 2016 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Environmental Media Association ) (Randy Shropshire)
Through the years Will Smith arrives at the Premiere Of Netflix's "Bright" at Regency Village Theatre on December 13, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Through the years Will Smith attends Nickelodeon's 2019 Kids' Choice Awards at Galen Center on March 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images) (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
Through the years Will Smith gets slimed onstage at Nickelodeon's 2019 Kids' Choice Awards at Galen Center on March 23, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years (L-R) Will Smith, Tatyana Ali, Edward Aszard Rasberry and Vaughn Rasberry arrive at the premiere of Disney's "Aladdin" at the El Capitan Theater on May 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith attends the premiere of Disney's "Aladdin" at El Capitan Theatre on May 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years Will Smith attends the Paramount Pictures, Skydance and Jerry Bruckheimer Films "Gemini Man" Budapest red carpet at Buda Castle Savoy Terrace on September 25, 2019 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures) (Ian Gavan/Getty Images for Paramount Pictu)
Through the years Will Smith attends the premiere of 20th Century Fox's "Spies In Disguise" at El Capitan Theatre on December 04, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images) (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
Through the years Will Smith attends the UK premiere of "King Richard" at Curzon Cinema Mayfair on November 17, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Warner Bros.) (Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for War)
Through the years (L-R) Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith attend Peacock's new series "BEL-AIR" premiere party and drive-thru screening experience at Barker Hangar on February 09, 2022 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images) (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images)
Through the years Will Smith attends Peacock's new series "BEL-AIR" premiere party and drive-thru screening experience at Barker Hangar on February 09, 2022 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Through the years (L-R) Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith attend the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images) (MIKE COPPOLA/Getty Images)
Through the years Will Smith attends the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 27, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 30: Will Smith performs onstage during the 2024 BET Awards at Peacock Theater on June 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)