'No chance I would vote for him': Academy divided over Will Smith's 'Emancipation' after Oscars slapgate
Will Smith is making his acting comeback with a new film after the Oscars 2022 incident in which he slapped Chris Rock on the stage during the ceremony. Reports state that the Academy Awards voters are now refusing to support the actor in his new movie 'Emancipation' following the infamous slapgate incident during the 94th Academy Awards, according to the Daily Mail.
In the upcoming Apple TV drama, Smith, 54, portrays the lead role of a runaway slave during the Civil War. The film will be released in December 2022, making it eligible for the 95th Academy Award nomination period. Some voters, however, have decided not to support Smith due to his stunt earlier this year when he rushed to the stage to slap Rock after the comedian and actor mocked Jada Pinkett Smith, who has alopecia.
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A member of the executive branch of voters told The Hollywood Reporter, "Would I vote for Will Smith? Not a chance." "Heavy sigh. No chance I would vote for him," said another. Others said that the Academy would be "embarrassed" by Smith's nomination for an award. A member of the music branch of voters stated, "Nominating Will Smith would be a slap in the face to the Academy."
Smith has expressed regret for his actions on stage in March on numerous occasions and called them "unacceptable and inexcusable." The majority of voters were snide in their support of Smith, but one person advised the seasoned actor to seek out "anger management" assistance.
One member stated, "Will Smith should have been asked to take part in an Academy-mandated anger-management program before being readmitted or having his work considered for awards."
The member added, "Apple, of course, can do whatever they wish, but the Academy should not feel compelled to buy into the circus that will surround this project."
Another added, "No chance I would vote for him. However, I support the release. We need some good films out there, which I am assuming and hope this is. This is likely coming from Smith - the decision to release it now, I mean - and it shows the same hubris and arrogance that had him go dancing after the Oscars."
Others expressed their opposition to backing Smith but argued that the film's creators shouldn't be penalized for the actor's poor choice. One member of the directors' branch of voters stated, "Hundreds of people worked on that film, and they shouldn't be penalized. As far as it being a contender, if it's well-received, well done, and deserving, it should be allowed to be given its shot and let the voters decide. Re: Will? I don't know. He did something terrible. He apologized. We have to allow people to grow and learn and atone."
A member of the executive branch of voters continued, "I feel compassion for the producers and other creatives on the movie, who are essentially collateral damage of Smith’s actions, and I’m not sure that burying a movie, like 'Batgirl,' is a victim-free solution. So if Apple thinks it best to let the marketplace of ideas sort this out, it’s really their call."
The member added, "As to voting for him, I really can’t imagine it. It’s an embarrassment to the Academy that he wasn’t thrown out of the building forthwith, and I’d be shocked if that moment won’t persist as an award disqualifier for a long time."
Meanwhile, some claimed that viewers' opinions would be influenced by Smith's performance and the quality of the film's production. One member of the documentary voting branch stated, "In terms of voting for the film and his performance, I think it depends. I have to see the film first. I’ve heard the film is good, which should be rewarded if deservedly so. But overall, I think all of this depends on whether there are some apologies and humble-pie eaten during the film’s release and potential awards campaign. He can’t pretend the slap never happened; thus, how will it be addressed? I think it depends on how he handles it all."
Another voter from the sound branch made the suggestion that voters should base their decisions on talent and they should abstain from voting or refrain from seeing the film if Smith's actions offend them. The member stated, "The Academy Awards are to honor excellence in individual categories, not to punish people. If Will Smith's performance is the best, he should win."