Actor Will Smith was asked to leave the Oscar ceremony after he slapped Chris Rock, but he refused to do so, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has said.
The Academy on Wednesday said through his actions Smith violated its Standards of Conduct, "including inappropriate physical contact, abusive or threatening behavior, and compromising the integrity of the Academy".
In a statement released after a Board of Governors meeting, the institution said the actor could face suspension, expulsion or other sanctions if the board chooses to take action at the next scheduled meeting on April 18. Smith will also receive 15 days' notice of a vote as well as an opportunity to be heard by written response beforehand.
"Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated. While we would like to clarify that Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognise we could have handled the situation differently," the Academy said.
Many have questioned why Smith was permitted to attend the rest of the ceremony after the viral altercation. Actor-comedian Jim Carrey said he was 'sickened' by the incident and the audience's response. “I was sickened by the standing ovation, felt like Hollywood is just spineless en masse," referring to the moment when Smith went back on stage to receive the Best Actor award.
Wanda Sykes, who co-hosted the Oscars with Regina Hall and Amy Schumer, said she is still traumatised by the incident. Skyes, too, questioned why Smith was allowed to continue and attend the rest of the show. Speaking to Ellen DeGeneres, she said: “And for them to let him stay in that room and enjoy the rest of the show and accept his award, I was like, ‘How gross is this? This is just the wrong message.”
In his first public appearance since the Sunday episode at a comedy club, Rock received a standing ovation from the audience. Though he did not directly mention the Oscars incident, he said he was still 'kind of processing' what had happened.