Opinion: Sanction Will Smith and let him keep the award

Award BandageCarol Durant

Well, I am sure you all have witnessed or reviewed the slap heard around the world at the recent Academy Awards® show. I did not watch it live, I have watched the clips. In case you missed it, Chris Rock delivered an ill conceived joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith. She squirmed, rolled her eyes and looked at her husband. Will Smith left his seat next to his wife in the audience, entered the stage and slapped comedian Chris Rock, left the stage and yelled pejoratives. After this agitated and supreme lack of judgment, Will Smith subsequently won the Best Actor award for the movie, King Richard. Will Smith gave a teary eyed acceptance speech about his performance in the film.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (©A.M.P.A.S.®) is going to convene their Board of Governors and discuss the Standards of Conduct regarding this incident at the awards show. Here is the link for their Standards of Conduct https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/standards-of-conduct-process.pdf. The following actors technically violated the ©A.M.P.A.S.® Standards of Conduct and were not sanctioned or brought up on charges with the Los Angeles Police Department. Adrian Brody, who won the Best Actor award for The Piano assaulted Halle Berry by kissing her without her consent on stage after winning his Best Actor award in 2002. Melissa Leo, dropped pejoratives during her acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress in The Fighter in 2010. Jennifer Lawrence is flipping off photographers with her Oscar for Best Actress in Silver Linings Playbook in 2012.

I suggest Will Smith deliver another public apology and possibly a suspension of privileges for a short period of time. Also the Board of Governors should strongly suggest some psychotherapy. https://deadline.com/2022/03/academy-condemns-the-actions-of-will-smith-after-chris-rock-slapping-incident-conducting-formal-review-1234989385/