|
Post by rick on Mar 28, 2022 0:14:04 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by rick on Mar 28, 2022 5:57:54 GMT -5
Just to have things in sequence....
First, Will Smith laughed at the joke --
And THEN this happened (this is from Japanese TV because in the United States Disney/ABC had the sound off for about 15 seconds during Smith's tirade) --
|
|
|
Post by erik on Mar 28, 2022 8:27:47 GMT -5
I saw that too; and for a moment, I thought that this was staged--until the sound went off. My mother and I were watching it; and we didn't believe it at first. I wake up this morning, and it is indeed The Slap Seen Around The World--truth in advertising.
Still, there was at least one good thing for me, especially since it started the whole night off: Ariana DeBose becoming the first openly LGBTQ woman of color to win a statuette...and it was in the very same category and the very same role for which Rita Moreno (who was in the audience) had won in 1961, which of course was for Anita in WEST SIDE STORY. And after a lot of finagling, and some pushback from the original film's Riff, Russ Tamblyn, Rachel Zegler (who unfortunately was shut out, unfairly in my opinion, of a Best Actress nomination for her luminous star-making turn as Maria) got to co-present the Visual Effects award.
Finally, the In Memoriam portion was a bit hard to take, not because it was bad in any way, but because it reminded us of just how many of these folks passed away in 2021 and early 2022, including Sidney Poitier.
|
|
|
Post by rick on Mar 28, 2022 15:47:03 GMT -5
Motion Picture Academy Mulls Consequences for Will Smith
Wall Street Journal
Academy Opens Formal Review of Will Smith-Chris Rock Incident
The ‘King Richard’ star slapped the comedian minutes before winning the Oscar for best actor; Academy rules allow it to revoke an award after it is given
By Ellen Gamerman
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has launched a formal investigation into the incident involving Will Smith at Sunday night’s Oscars ceremony. It also shared organizational rules that show it has the power to revoke an award after the fact.
During the show, Mr. Smith smacked Chris Rock after the comedian told a joke from the stage about Mr. Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Less than an hour later, Mr. Smith was back on the stage, claiming the trophy for best actor for his performance in the drama “King Richard.”
“The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night’s show,” the organization that oversees the Oscars said in a statement on Monday. “We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law.“
The Academy’s standards of conduct state that the organization can take disciplinary actions including “revoking Academy awards or honors.” The Academy can take less drastic measures, too, including private or public reprimand, and temporary or permanent loss of eligibility for future Oscars.
Mr. Rock declined to file a police report against Mr. Smith, according to the Los Angeles Police Department, which released a statement saying that it was aware of “an incident between two individuals” at the Academy Awards. “The incident involved one individual slapping another,” the statement read.
After the ceremony, Mr. Smith continued in the manner of any regular Oscar winner. He posed for photographs, smiling with children Willow, Jaden and Trey Smith, alongside Ms. Pinkett Smith. Ms. Pinkett Smith changed into a spangled gown the color of champagne. The family huddled close for an intimate photo portrait at the Vanity Fair Oscar party.
Mr. Smith won the best actor award for his performance in “King Richard,” the biopic about Richard Williams, father of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams. During his acceptance speech, he apologized to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which presents the Oscars, and his fellow nominees. He made no mention of Mr. Rock, whose joke poked fun at Ms. Pinkett Smith’s hair loss.
Ms. Pinkett Smith has said she has alopecia, a hair-loss condition, and she has worked over the years to raise awareness for the disease.
Mr. Smith’s family appeared to close ranks around him. His son, Jaden Smith, tweeted: “And That’s How We Do It.”
Some of the loudest critics of Mr. Smith’s slap were comedy professionals, including filmmaker Judd Apatow, stand-up comedian Jim Gaffigan and comedy personality Kathy Griffin.
At the ceremony, Mr. Smith appeared to be consoled by other celebrities in the room including Denzel Washington, Bradley Cooper and Tyler Perry. Tributes to him followed after the show, like this one from rapper Nicki Minaj, who said Mr. Smith was right to defend his wife. “This is what any & every real man feels in that instant,” she wrote on Twitter. “While y’all seeing the joke he’s seeing her pain.”
Video posted on social media from the Vanity Fair afterparty showed Mr. Smith clutching his Oscar, dancing and rapping along to his hit “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It.” He was surrounded on three sides by guests holding up their phones to capture the moment as they danced along with him.
Before the show, Mr. Smith posted to his Instagram pictures of himself and Ms. Pinkett Smith in jokey poses with the caption, “Me ‘n @jadapinkettsmith got all dressed up to choose chaos.” Later, Mr. Smith commented on the post: “You can’t invite people from Philly or Baltimore nowhere!!”
Will Packer, executive producer of the Oscars telecast, also made a joke about the incident when he tweeted, “Welp…I said it wouldn’t be boring #Oscars.”
—Omar Abdel-Baqui contributed to this article. Write to Ellen Gamerman at ellen.gamerman@wsj.com
|
|
|
Post by Dianna on Mar 28, 2022 18:07:35 GMT -5
Smith would not have gotten away with physically attacking Chris Rock, on live TV if he was not a famous "movie star." IMO, there was no excuse for what he did last night. I felt horrible for Chris Rock... .. Was the joke in bad taste? Yes, Was it funny? NO.. and from what I witnessed, the eyeroll Jada made after Rock's reference to the movie G.I. Jane summed it up.. and I wasn't aware Jada had alopecia (hair loss) She is a beautiful woman and can afford the best wigs or hair piece. Smith crossed the line and went too far. he should be reprimanded.. I don't care who you are, you don't do that. You can't just physically attack somebody and get away with it.. It's the world we're live in right now and I might get banned for saying this.. but this so called "strong man," attitude and society we're living in.. those 4 years and now what's going on in Ukraine with no consequences for horrible behavior and worse... It has to stop..
|
|
|
Post by erik on Mar 28, 2022 18:35:48 GMT -5
Quote by Dianna:
You won't get any argument from me, Dianna. I don't think either man was right. Chris Rock's joke was in singularly bad taste (though line-crossing in comedy is always going to offend somebody at some point; it's just the nature and the history of the form), but Will Smith's "slap" would have easily landed him in jail at any other time, and maybe even have stripped him of the Academy Award he won just an hour later in the show. As it is, what happened last night could and probably should get both of them 86'ed from next year's ceremony (IMHO).
|
|
|
Post by rick on Mar 29, 2022 15:26:12 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by rick on Mar 29, 2022 15:30:23 GMT -5
Smith would not have gotten away with physically attacking Chris Rock, on live TV if he was not a famous "movie star." IMO, there was no excuse for what he did last night. I felt horrible for Chris Rock... .. Was the joke in bad taste? Yes, Was it funny? NO.. and from what I witnessed, the eyeroll Jada made after Rock's reference to the movie G.I. Jane summed it up.. and I wasn't aware Jada had alopecia (hair loss) She is a beautiful woman and can afford the best wigs or hair piece. Smith crossed the line and went too far. he should be reprimanded.. I don't care who you are, you don't do that. You can't just physically attack somebody and get away with it. Dianna, I agree. The thing is -- as I posted the video of it above -- Will Smith LAUGHED at the "joke." From what I have read, Chris Rock ad-libbed that joke. It was not something he said in the rehearsals the day before. It seems to me and a lot of other people that Will Smith only went from laughing to climbing on stage to physically assault Chris Rock once Smith saw Jada's eye-roll. According to an article in Deadline.com, Jada said only recently, "I don't give two craps if people make jokes about my bald head." So which is it? There is this piece from the African-American critic for NPR (National Public Radio) -- Should Will Smith have been allowed to collect an Oscar after he slapped Chris Rock? Speaking personally now, as someone who has been physically abused/attacked, I will say that this event was very triggering for me and a lot of other people. Without going into details, when one's abuser/attacker doesn't face consequences for their actions, it is very confusing because it seems as if society/people are saying, "It's okay that that happened to you." As far as I can see, there have been no consequences for Will Smith. On MSNBC's "Morning Joe" today (Tuesday, March 29) Stephen Battaglio said, "Well, the Academy will likely punish Will Smith by not allowing him to present the Best Actress Oscar at the 2023 Academy Awards. That would be a stiff punishment." GIVE ME A BREAK! Do people really think that Will Smith would care if he weren't allowed to present the Best Actress Oscar next year? Puh-leeeze! And then this Mr. Battaglio said "But the ratings went up!" AS IF THAT IS THE BE-ALL and END-ALL. I live in Los Angeles, but I consider myself a regular person who struggles. I don't live in the rarified atmosphere of these celebrities that nothing and no one can touch. To Dianna's point about bullies in the world, many times people in the film, TV and music industry will speak out about important causes and I feel that an incident like this with Will Smith allows people in "the real America" (sic) not to want to pay attention to what the elites on the Left Coast have to say even when it is for a worthwhile cause.
|
|
|
Post by Dianna on Mar 29, 2022 22:03:37 GMT -5
Yes, Rick. It was triggering, I was horrified at what happened.. As I said, had it been anybody else, they would have been escorted off the premises in cuffs. Many of those at the ceremony applauding Smith are the first to speak out about violence or bully politicians foreign or domestic.. so it seems hypocritical how they all gave him a standing ovation after winning best actor.. Jim Carrey referred to them as "spineless," (he's right.) I don't know how they will settle this as I don't know the rules or how it works but he should not be rewarded, especially after what he did. I heard Whoopi Goldberg talk about it and she was a little dismissive and felt Smith should still keep the Oscar.. which kind of irritated me and ruined her credibility.. because she is the first to speak out if a person who is not of color behaves badly i.e. the ex president and assaulting another person over a stupid joke is even worse.
|
|
|
Post by rick on Mar 29, 2022 22:44:13 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by eddiejinnj on Mar 30, 2022 5:37:55 GMT -5
I absolutely agree that he should have used his voice not use violence (to quote hb) 1000%. There is a difference with appearing strong and confident on the world stage (the last 4 yrs comment) vs weak where the punks of the world can use violence easily. Strength and confidence not arrogance is a positive thing to strive for for all countries so that all peoples are not taken advantage of. Going back to the topic, Dianna is correct that if Smith was not famous he would have had other consequences but Smith is an elite (although celebrities do get arrested one would need to study the outcomes of such arrests from a sociological standpoint). Peace eddiejinfl
|
|
|
Post by eddiejinnj on Mar 30, 2022 6:13:52 GMT -5
I know that the police/law enforcement can press charges in some cases even if the victim doesn't want them pressed. I don't know if the assault in this case would qualify but it should. The assault was filmed. eddiejinfl
|
|
|
Post by erik on Mar 30, 2022 8:53:34 GMT -5
Quote by Rick:
Yes, that comment about the ratings was a really cynical thing to say. It can be argued that the Oscars needed something "exciting" to boost its sagging ratings (and truth be told, awards show ratings have sagged in the last six years); but I sincerely doubt an on-air slapping and enough four-letter words being exchanged so that the sound dropped out for fifteen seconds was what anyone had in mind for "exciting".
In fact, it was...and I am being very blunt her...an absolute f***ing embarrassment.
|
|
|
Post by rick on Mar 30, 2022 16:01:46 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by eddiejinnj on Mar 30, 2022 16:29:34 GMT -5
Just seeing the title of the Sykes article, I think that should have happened and somebody could have picked his award up for him. Those are appropriate consequences vs like Rick brought up maybe not presenting the Best Actress Oscar next year. I get that gimme a break attitude with that and to discuss ratings is ever soooooooooo tacky and insensitive. Anyway, all have a great night. Peace eddiejinfl
|
|
|
Post by rick on Mar 30, 2022 17:45:31 GMT -5
Academy Asked Smith To Leave, But He RefusedThe Washington Post Will Smith refused to leave the Oscars after slapping Chris Rock, academy saysBy Travis M. Andrews The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday that Will Smith was asked to leave the Oscars ceremony after he slapped Chris Rock — but Smith refused. “Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated,” the academy said in a statement. “While we would like to clarify that Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognize we could have handled the situation differently.” The revelation came after the Board of Governors met to initiate “disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, including inappropriate physical contact, abusive or threatening behavior, and compromising the integrity of the Academy.” During the ceremony, Rock made a joke at the expense of Jada Pinkett Smith, Smith’s wife. Smith climbed onto stage, struck Rock across the face and returned to his seat, where he twice yelled, “Keep my wife’s name out your f---ing mouth.” Later in the ceremony, he accepted the best actor award for his role in “King Richard” and gave a teary speech in which he apologized to the academy and his fellow nominees, but not Rock. The next day, he posted an Instagram apology to Rock. Rock has not spoken publicly about the event. Previously, questions abounded as to why the academy did not remove Smith from the ceremony after the incident. The academy said it is providing Smith with “at least 15 days’ notice of a vote regarding his violations and sanctions, and the opportunity to be heard beforehand by means of a written response.” The board will meet again on April 18, at which point it “may take any disciplinary action, which may include suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions.” It also called Smith’s actions a “deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television.” “Mr. Rock, we apologize to you for what you experienced on our stage and thank you for your resilience in that moment,” the statement continued. “We also apologize to our nominees, guests and viewers for what transpired during what should have been a celebratory event.” ----------------------------------- This is a breaking news file. It will be updated.
|
|
|
Post by rick on Mar 30, 2022 20:44:06 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by erik on Mar 30, 2022 22:22:39 GMT -5
This is really becoming a freak show for the Academy; and I don't know how it ends.
Will Smith needs to be held accountable will the full force of the Academy. Regardless of his skin color or his status, or the reasons for it, you do not ever engage in this kind of behavior, even if it is a mere slap, in front of a live audience of thousands plus an audience of a few hundred million who are watching on TV all over the world. You just don't f***ing do that, and get away with it. Case Closed.
|
|
|
Post by eddiejinnj on Mar 31, 2022 6:04:31 GMT -5
I am concerned for his Smith's son tweeting or whatever saying "this is how we do it". If the son is not 18 then his parents should have taken that down, imo. eddiejinfl
|
|
|
Post by PoP80 on Mar 31, 2022 14:03:50 GMT -5
Protecting your family is no excuse for violence. If Will Smith's role model is Richard Williams, that's a sad commentary. In any case, do we really need all those tasteless jokes and banter at the Oscars? Just give out the awards and get on with it...
|
|
|
Post by rick on Mar 31, 2022 14:50:03 GMT -5
Protecting your family is no excuse for violence. If Will Smith's role model is Richard Williams, that's a sad commentary. In any case, do we really need all those tasteless jokes and banter at the Oscars? Just give out the awards and get on with it... Pop, I agree with you. That said, I was speaking with a longtime close friend on the phone yesterday and he worked in the entertainment business for 40 years. He said he has been in situations where there was a "live" show and he was in charge of the button to pull the feed or cut out the audio, etc. And he said a lot of things are going on. He also said that another friend, who has written plays, TV movies, etc. said "The Oscars program is an entertainment program," so I guess that's to say it is more than just standing up there and saying the names of nominees and then announcing winners. I agree, the banter can be very lame and forced. In my opinion, Chris Rock's "joke" was lame but it did not call for violence. The show could have been much shorter. I read that the big production number about "We Don't Talk About Bruno" is for a song that WAS NOT EVEN NOMINATED! There have been years in the past when the Oscars did not even have the nominated songs performed, and they are going to kill time with a song that wasn't even nominated? It's just one example of things that could be cut, in my opinion, but, again, as my friend's friend said, "It's a TV show." Not sure how many of you can view this but I'll post and see what people think. It's of Wanda Sykes speaking about the incident on "Ellen" on Wednesday, March 30 -- www.instagram.com/reel/Cbv2lA5juAV/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
|
|
|
Post by Dianna on Mar 31, 2022 18:56:25 GMT -5
I think Wanda Sykes speaks for most of us. Whoopi Goldberg continues to be dismissive of the entire thing.. She has lost all credibility IMO. I've never followed Will or Jada so I don't know too much about their personal lives nor have I cared ..I don't like those Men in Black Movies (my significant other does)I did like King Richard.. anyway, I do understand their marriage is an open marriage and Jada had an affair with her sons friend and I also understand Will approved of it.. That's pretty weird IMO.. he might be doing his own thing too .. who knows. There was also a clip, it was a different angle of "the slap, on Oscar Night and in that clip you could see Jada's reaction, after Will slapped Chris, Jada appeared to be laughing. When Will got back to his seat they didn't even look at each other. The whole incident is just so bizarre .. he allows his wife to swing with other men yet goes ape shit over a stupid fairly harmless joke..
|
|
|
Post by eddiejinnj on Apr 1, 2022 6:16:40 GMT -5
I didn't even really know what the movie King Richard was no less their open marriage. Reality can be stranger than fiction!!! eddiejinfl
|
|
|
Post by rick on Apr 1, 2022 14:41:52 GMT -5
Will Packer, the producer of this year's Oscarcast, was on ABC's "Good Morning America" this morning, Friday, April 1 (I wish his appearance were an April Fools joke). Here Packer says that they knew that Will Smith was going to win and that he (Packer) wanted Smith to "make it right," BUT that Smith did not give the conciliatory speech that he should have because he did not apologize to Chris Rock.
All I can do is echo what Wanda Sykes said, "sickening" and "gross" --
|
|
|
Post by rick on Apr 1, 2022 20:13:43 GMT -5
Will Smith resigns from film academy after ‘inexcusable’ Oscars slapWashington Post Will Smith resigns from film academy after ‘inexcusable’ Oscars slapBy Sonia RaoWill Smith on Friday announced his resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences amid continued fallout over his slap of presenter Chris Rock at the Academy Awards on Sunday. He described his actions in a written statement as “shocking, painful, and inexcusable.” “The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home,” he continued. “I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken.” Smith said he “will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct.” Academy President David Rubin wrote in a statement that the organization “had received and accepted Mr. Will Smith’s immediate resignation” and would “continue to move forward with our disciplinary proceedings” ahead of a board meeting on April 18. Smith’s resignation means he cannot participate in Oscar voting or attend certain academy events, but unless the academy decides otherwise, it does not affect his best actor win or award eligibility going forward. It is unclear whether he will attend next year’s ceremony to present best actress, as is tradition for the previous year’s best actor winner. Before presenting the best documentary trophy to Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and his collaborators on “Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised),” Rock made a crack about Smith’s wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith, whom he said looked ready to appear in a “G.I. Jane” sequel. The joke, which ceremony producer Will Packer later said was unscripted, referenced Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. The actress has spoken publicly about struggling with hair loss from alopecia, an autoimmune disease. Pinkett Smith looked unamused by Rock’s joke and, within moments, her husband made his way to the stage. He slapped Rock across the face and returned to his seat, where he yelled twice for the comedian to “keep my wife’s name out your f---ing mouth.” ABC cut the broadcast’s audio for more than 20 seconds. Later in the ceremony, Smith won best actor — his first Oscar — for playing Richard Williams, father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, in “King Richard.” He cried while accepting the award, noting that “love will make you do crazy things,” and apologized to the academy and his fellow nominees. He also thanked the Williams family for “entrusting me with their story” as the tennis stars looked on from their seats in the Dolby Theatre. Smith did not apologize to Rock until issuing a statement on Instagram the next day. On Wednesday, after the academy’s board of governors met to initiate “proceedings against Mr. Smith” for violating its standards of conduct, the organization announced that Smith was asked to leave the ceremony after slapping Rock but refused. What exactly happened has been disputed; Packer said on “Good Morning America” earlier Friday that he had not been privy to Smith being asked to leave voluntarily but that he did relay to “academy leadership” that Rock did not want Smith physically removed from the theater. However, a person close to Rock who declined to speak on the record said that the comedian was never asked if he wanted Smith removed from the ceremony, only if he wanted to press charges, which Rock ultimately declined to do. The academy also apologized to the stand-up comedian in its statement Wednesday and noted that “things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated.” That same day, Rock performed for a sold-out crowd at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston. He was greeted by a standing ovation and asked the audience to “let me do a show, y’all.” He said he was “still kind of processing what happened,” declining to elaborate further on his emotions surrounding the slap. In his resignation statement, Smith also expressed his desire for the attention paid to his actions and the various responses to it to be redirected. “I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements,” he said, “and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film.”
|
|
|
Post by Dianna on Apr 2, 2022 1:13:10 GMT -5
Well it's a good thing he resigned. And I hope he is being genuine and sincere with his apology and is being remorseful. Many of these people seem to be out of touch with the every day person... There are people currently who have lost their homes and loved ones and others have fled their homeland due to this war.. and Will Smith physically assaults another person over a stupid joke. Grow the hell up.. You're an actor and a very entitled one at that.
|
|
|
Post by rick on Apr 2, 2022 1:18:48 GMT -5
Dianna —
I agree. However, on the local ABC news station they just said although Smith resigned from the Academy, all it really means is he can’t vote for Oscars anymore. He can be nominated again and he can still attend. Again, people are saying the Academy is likely to prohibit Smith from presenting the Best Actress Oscar at the 2023 ceremony. 🙄 Big whoop. As if he would care.
|
|
|
Post by Dianna on Apr 2, 2022 1:35:48 GMT -5
Well, I for one will never see or purchase any of his movies, because by doing so, that would be rewarding him. I think a lot of people feel the same way... besides I've got better things to do with my time and my money.. Maybe he should be blackballed and shunned from the industry all together..? These people get paid millions and millions of dollars for what they do and some of them think they're a god that they are above reproach.... Maybe this is a lesson he needs to learn.. You know, I don't typically follow a lot of artists.. I think Linda is probably the only one I follow closely... and I think many of us could be attracted to her not only of her talent.. because of her emotional intelligence and humility.. She would never behave in such a way..
|
|
|
Post by rick on Apr 2, 2022 1:44:35 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by eddiejinnj on Apr 2, 2022 12:27:46 GMT -5
Well, at least, he can't contribute his opinion on future noms/winners by resigning. Whether people continue to go to see his movies is up to them. I don't think for arts sake that he should not be considered for future Oscars if his output is of excellence. in certain ways, Rock should have pressed charges, Smith plead guilty he gets a fair but just sentence. Paying the piper probably would make this go away faster have a just outcome and then move on. eddiejinfl
|
|