OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is deliberating the punishment for actor Will Smith after he slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Academy Awards and he could be stripped of his Oscar for Best Actor.
The actor is set to learn his punishment on Friday and some are hesitating because sexual predators Harvey Weinstein and Roman Polanski did not have their Oscars taken from them, The Sun reported.
“There have been at least two different Zoom and conference calls with various members, and specific governors over the past ten days,” a source said.
“The decision was made earlier this week to expedite the hearing in the wake of Will’s resignation, and during that call it was clear that the decision would go to the wire.
“The members — of which there are over 9,000, with hundreds of WhatsApp groups flying about — are completely split,” the source said.
“The governors themselves are also said to be in disagreement,” they said.
“Given, though, that convicted sexual predator Harvey Weinstein and fugitive child rapist Roman Polanski haven’t been stripped of their gongs, the general consensus is that it would be madness and rank hypocrisy to take such a stand now.
“But, as we all know, Hollywood is a law unto itself, frankly,” they said.
It comes as a video resurfaced showing Smith’s wife Jada filming him before their “Red Table” appearance, where she admitted to “entanglements” outside of their marriage, and the “Men In Black” star appeared to be agitated with being videoed.
“You know [therapist] Esther Perel is coming to the table — she’s gonna be at the ‘Red Table,’” Jada said in the video.
She then points the camera at Will and asks, “Would you say she has been instrumental in you and I redefining our relationship?”
Will Smith: I would say don’t just start filming me without asking me if you could film me.
Jada Pinkett: I’m still dealing with foolishness.
*Jada continues filming anyway*
Will Smith is gone. pic.twitter.com/lKLqxwrfDk
— Man of Letters. (@Letter_to_Jack) April 8, 2022
“I would say don’t just start filming me without asking me,” an agitated Smith responded.
Jada responded by saying that she is “still dealing with foolishness.”
Keeping the video on Smith, Jada asks, “Would you say that she [Perel] helped us heal the hurts that we caused between one another?”
“My social media presence is my bread and butter. So you can’t just use me for social media. Don’t just start rolling; I’m standing in my house. Don’t start rolling,” Smith responded.
After the slap, Smith officially apologized to Rock for slapping him while he was on stage at the Academy Awards Sunday evening following a joke about the actor’s wife.
The assault, which occurred during a live portion of the show, occurred after Rock told a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head amid her ongoing battle with hair loss.
In his apology, Smith said he was “out of line” and “wrong” for striking Rock, The Daily Wire reported.
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“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive,” the 53-year-old actor captioned his post on Instagram. “My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.”
I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,” he noted further.”I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”
“I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world,” Smith noted further. “I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress. Sincerely, Will.”
