The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences said that Will Smith was asked to leave to Sunday’s Oscars after hitting Chris Rock but refused.
The Academy’s board of governors, which met on Wednesday, said it had also initiated disciplinary proceedings against Smith for violations against the group’s standards of conduct.
The actor slapped Rock after a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, that mocked her short hairstyle. Pinkett Smith has been open about her alopecia-related hair loss.
Many have questioned why Smith – who just an hour later received a standing ovation after winning the award for best actor – was allowed to remain seated front row at the Academy Awards after the incident. On Wednesday, the Academy suggested that it attempted to remove the actor from the audience.
“Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated,” the Academy said. “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.”
The Academy said Smith would have the opportunity to defend himself in a written response before the board meets again on 18 April. The Academy said disciplinary action for Smith could include suspension, expulsion or other sanctions.
The film academy earlier condemned Smith’s onstage assault of Rock. But it used stronger language on Wednesday.
“Mr Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television,” the academy said. “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.”
The fallout in Hollywood continues, with many stars condemning the onstage violence. Wanda Sykes, who co-hosted the Oscars with Amy Schumer and Regina Hall, said she had felt physically ill after the slap. In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres scheduled to air on Thursday, Sykes also said Smith should not have been allowed to stay and accept his award. Jim Carrey said he was “sickened” by the response and called Hollywood “spineless” for giving Smith a standing ovation that night.
During a five-minute, emotional acceptance speech for best actor, Smith talked about defending his family and apologized to the Academy, but he did not mention Rock. On Monday, he issued an apology to Rock, the Academy and viewers, saying: “I was out of line and I was wrong.”
“I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress,” Smith said in an Instagram post. Jada Pinkett Smith, meanwhile, has called for “healing”.
Rock addressed the controversy for the first time at a show in Boston on Wednesday night. According to an audio clip posted by Variety, the comedian said he was “still kinda processing what happened” and would have more to say “at some point”.
Only a very small number of Academy members have ever been expelled, including several accused and convicted of assault, including Harvey Weinstein, Roman Polanski, and Bill Cosby; and the actor Carmine Caridi, who was kicked out for sharing awards screeners.
Questions have been raised about whether Smith could see his award withdrawn. 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.” (Even Oscars won by expelled members haven’t previously been ordered to be returned.) Goldberg added that “nobody is OK with what happened”.
