Slapping 57-year-old comedian Chris Rock for poking fun at his 50-year-old wife Jada Pinkett-Smith at the Oscars Sunday, March 27, 53-year-old Best Actor award-recipient for “King Richard” Will Smith must pay for his inexcusable act. Smith issued a formal mea culpa, apologizing to Rock, saying he only wanted to spread love in his life, the same rambling message he delivered at the award ceremony Sunday night. Rock, too, for his part apologized for poking fund a Jada for shaving her head, saying jokingly that she’s ready to play “GI-Jane 2,” the 1997 movie staring 59-year-old Demi Moore, who, at the time, was a heartthrob with a shaved head. Whatever the bad taste of Rock’s joke, it was no excuse that for Smith to shout profanities and run to the stage, before Rock announced the Best Documentary award, and slap his face in front of the Dolby Theater audience and millions watching around the world.
Every one has an opinion about the incident that seemed to eclipse the 94th Academy Awards, dominating headlines, prompting reactions far-and-wide. Kareem Abdul Jabbar, 74, posted a scathing indictment of Smith’s behavior, saying it gave the Black Community a bad name for showing such impulsive violent behavior. Kareem often offers his take on many social issues like the 2020 George Floyd police murder and now Smith’s misbehavior. Kareem stretched Smith’s immaturity, maybe under the influence of weed, alcohol or something else, to represent something much bigger than it was. Smith doesn’t speak, whether he’s worth $350 million, for the Black Community, nor does he speak for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. After the altercations between Smith and Rock finished, the Academy presented Smith with his best actor award for “King Richard.”
When the dust settles, the Academy must take up the issue of an award recipient smacking one of its celebrity presenters. Whether Smith is fined, agrees to donate something to his favorite charity or something elect, Smith must know that a mea culpa is not enough to undo what happened. Some are calling for the Academy to take away Smiths’s Oscar but with a sizable lifetime body of work, including “Men in Black,” “Hitch,” “Ali” and many others, Smith earned his award for “King Richard.” So when it comes to consequences, it’s not enough for Smith to get off the hook with a simple mea culpa. Rock has apparently agreed not to file assault charges, something that would eventually go nowhere. Within most organizations, there are mechanisms in place for dealing with conduct not befitting the acting profession. Yet the Academy so far has been mum on how to proceed.
With its bylaws, the Academy probably has some mechanism to discipline members who breach ethical standards or behavior within the field. Certainly slapping an approved presenter at the Oscars warrants some kind of discipline, even with joint mea culpas by Smith and Rock. Before he leaped on the stage to slap Rock, Smith laughed at his “GI-Jane” joke, then suddenly acted impulsively he said to defend the honor of his wife. “This is the season for healing, and I’m here for it,” Pinkett-Smith posted today, following up on her husband’s mea culpa apologizing profusely to Rock, the Academy, the audience and all his fans. How ironic that his 67-year-old friend and Oscar winner Denzel Washington warned him before receiving his award. “At your highest moment, be careful—that’s when the devil comes for you,” Denzel told Smith, then watching Smith make a fool of himself.
No one thinks that Smith isn’t entitled to some redemption for crossing the line at the worst possible time. But because Rock refused to press charges, doesn’t mean Smith should not hear from the Academy when they figure out what to do. Stripping him of the Oscar would be too harsh but certainly fining him for stepping out of line would go a long way in resolving the controversy. Jabbar thinks that Smith made the Black Community look bad but, in reality, the U.S. legal system is built on individual responsibility, something not generalized to others. Smith’s erratic conduct stands on its own without needing more make sweeping generalizations to the Black Community. When it comes to Jada-Smith, she’s already spoke, following up on her husband’s plea for peace and love. When it comes to Smith processing what happened, the Academy needs to follow up with something.
Figuring out what prompted Smith to leap out of his seat to slap Chris Rock on the stage of the 94th Oscars is anyone’s guess. Even if Smith felt offended by Rock’s joke considering his wife’s struggle with “alopecia” or baldness, assaulting Rock was inexcusable, with no justification. Whether Smith was high on something at the time isn’t known. But whatever the reason the Academy must review the tape, get together with their administrators and attorneys and make come kind of statement, including any possible consequences. Organizations that want the respect of the public must do more than remain silent. Smith doesn’t operate completely independent to the organization that bestowed one of its highest honors for posterity. Smith put in writing his mea culpa now it’s time for the Academy to step up to preserve the integrity of the movie industry and its power to grant its highest awards.
