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Will Smith could be STRIPPED of his first-ever Oscar after assaulting Chris Rock, as backlash grows

The Academy has strict guidelines in its code of conduct and Smith's act of slapping Chris Rock might not be acceptable

Will Smith could lose his first-ever Oscar Award for 'King Richard' following his live onstage assault on Chris Rock. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which handed out the awards on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles, has strict guidelines in its code of conduct, and such an act by the actor may not be acceptable.

Chris Rock joked about Jada Pinkett Smith's bald head during the Oscars and allegedly made a comparison between Jada and GI Jane, which angered her husband Will Smith. He stepped on The stage and whacked the comedian, and as he walked off stage, Will exclaimed, "Keep my wife's name out of your f**king mouth!"

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According to a report by The Post after the incident, Smith's act was basically an assault and everyone was just so shocked in the room. It was apparently so uncomfortable and Will would not want to give his Oscar back, however, no one knows what will happen now.

Legally, Smith could be in the clear. The Los Angeles Police Department told the publication in a statement that it is aware of the incident.“LAPD investigative entities are aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards program,” a representative said. “The incident involved one individual slapping another. The individual involved has declined to file a police report. If the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report.”

The Academy has not yet commented on the issue but according to its conduct code released in 2017 during the sexual misconduct scandal that hit the industry, it emphasizes the importance of upholding the Academy’s values, like inclusion, fostering supportive environments, and respect for human dignity.

At the time, according to a report by Vareity, AMPAS CEO Dawn Hudson wrote to members, “Academy membership is a privilege offered to only a select few within the global community of filmmakers, in addition to achieving excellence in the field of motion picture arts and sciences, members must also behave ethically by upholding the Academy’s values of respect for human dignity, inclusion, and a supportive environment that fosters creativity."

She added, “There is no place in the Academy for people who abuse their status, power or influence in a manner that violates recognized standards of decency. The Academy is categorically opposed to any form of abuse, harassment or discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, age, religion, or nationality. The Board of Governors believes that these standards are essential to the Academy’s mission and reflective of our values.”

As of now, the Academy may have not said anything, and the incident may all have been staged, but it really pissed off the viewers, and many of them, including industry bigshots like director Judd Apatow, have a lot to say.

Apatow criticized Smith in a now-deleted tweet, saying, “He could have killed him. That’s pure out-of control rage and violence. They’ve heard a million jokes about them in the last three decades. They are not freshman in the world of Hollywood and comedy. He lost his mind.”