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Topics: Celebrity, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Oscars, US News
Shola Lee
Topics: Celebrity, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Oscars, US News
Organisers of the Oscars have released a statement to 'condemn' Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 94th Oscars.
The statement from the film academy noted that it has "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".
News of the review comes after Smith took to the stage to slap Rock after he made an insensitive joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
Rock, who has known the Smiths for some time, made the joke while presenting the award for Best Documentary.
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The joke involved Rock saying that he was excited to see Pinkett Smith, who has alopecia, in the new G.I Jane movie.
G.I Jane is a 1997 film that notably features Demi Moore with a shaved head.
Following the incident, Diddy came out to say that Rock and Smith had patched things up after the show. "That's not a problem. That's over. I can confirm that. It's all love. They're brothers", Diddy noted.
The Los Angeles Police Department also noted that Rock declined to file a police report, saying: "LAPD investigative entities are aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards program. The incident involved one individual slapping another. The individual involved has declined to file a police report".
However, the situation is still under review by the organisers, with many celebrities weighing in with their opinion on the incident.
Tiffany Haddish came out in support of Smith, saying to People: "When I saw a Black man stand up for his wife. That meant so much to me.
"As a woman, who has been unprotected, for someone to say, 'Keep my wife's name out your mouth, leave my wife alone,' that's what your husband is supposed to do, right? Protect you."
Haddish was referencing Smith's comment when he returned to his seat after slapping Rock.
Smith, who later on that night went on to win the Oscar for Best Actor, shouted to Rock: "Keep my wife's name out of your f******g mouth".
Meanwhile, other public figures like Howard Stern took a less favourable view of the situation.
During an episode of The Howard Stern Show that aired today (28 March), Stern said: "Will Smith and Trump are the same guy. He decided he’s going to take matters into his own hands".
Stern went on to note: "At a time when the world is at war. Bad timing, man. Calm your fucking ass down".
Smith and Rock are yet to publicly comment on the incident.
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