Will Smith slap.

[Eris solipsis]

I thought the same thing!!

Anyone else thought Will Smith initially laughed at the joke? I wonder if his wife told him to go up..

It certainly looked that way. But I suspect he didn’t need to be asked once he’d seen her reaction. She was clearly hurt.

 

[Eris solipsis]

Thankfully Ricky Gervais wasn't the host

Lucky for Ricky really. I wouldn’t have stopped till he hit the floor.

 

[Jon1961]

There’s no such thing as bad publicity.

 

[MrRook]

It could yet prove VERY expensive ..... for both parties.

Not for Rock. He's about to embark on a tour and all of a sudden all his dates are sold out and a way higher price per ticket: hundreds of dollars instead of tens.

 

[MrRook]

How long until Academy Award Slap becomes a thing?
"Take the pi$$ on me? I'll Academy Award Slap the taste out of your mouth."

 

[Eskimo John]

I am very disappointed to see that the media seems to be very anti Smith. All he was doing was protecting his wife. Perhaps not the right way to do it but the sentiment was the correct one. I would rather see the comedian crucified by the press as he was the aggressor I think.

 

[Tanglefoot]

Just been watching PM's questions. How I wish WIll Smith was leader of the opposition.

No need, Labour have John Prescott who could teach Will a thing or two

 

[Bernie]

Hollywood from glamorous to glabrous.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I am very disappointed to see that the media seems to be very anti Smith. All he was doing was protecting his wife. Perhaps not the right way to do it but the sentiment was the correct one. I would rather see the comedian crucified by the press as he was the aggressor I think.

Back in the day it would have been pistols at dawn!

 

[St00]

Back in the day it would have been pistols at dawn!

Poor Dawn

 

[Dutto]

“Slapped?” If you think it’s worth hitting someone, at least do it right and “punch”!

Back in the day, only girls and girlies “slapped”, everyone else “punched”; and Will Smith definitely gave an open-handed slap to Chris Rock.

Personally, for 55+ years I’ve never been upset enough to punch anyone; but, I have thrown the odd person at the nearest wall when I’ve been provoked.
:hat:

 

[Covrich]

Lucky for Ricky really. I wouldn’t have stopped till he hit the floor.

As I suspected with Ricky, he said he wouldn't have joked about the haircut but made a joke about her "boyfriend"

 

[Haversham]

I am very disappointed to see that the media seems to be very anti Smith. All he was doing was protecting his wife. Perhaps not the right way to do it but the sentiment was the correct one. I would rather see the comedian crucified by the press as he was the aggressor I think.

Well, that’s not really 'all he was doing' — he was physically assaulting someone into the bargain. Violence is rarely the answer to anything. By your logic he could have hit him with an axe and he would still be only defending his wife’s honour. The Oscars ceremony has a grim recent history of taking the p1ss out of those present. I don’t like it either but it would hardly be a surprise to Smith that it happened. One of those cases where neither party emerges with much dignity.

 

[Eris solipsis]

He could have used an axe, a shotgun or whatever, but he didn’t. He didn’t even punch the bloke. He slapped him. To me that shows a sense of measured reserve. He got what he deserved and no more ( or less).

 

[Haversham]

He could have used an axe, a shotgun or whatever, but he didn’t. He didn’t even punch the bloke. He slapped him. To me that shows a sense of measured reserve. He got what he deserved and no more ( or less).

OK, so it comes down to this - that you're OK with the violence, it's just a matter of how much violence. A violent slap is fine with you. With me, it's absolutely not. Context is everything. This was violence shown to a comedian on a stage because he said something that offended someone in the audience. This is a very slippery slope indeed.

 

[Eris solipsis]

Will took that risk. Yes , it was measured assault. Now I ask whether the joker is pressing charges? . Of course he isn’t . He knows justice has already been served.
Plus: if a man insults a woman about her appearance in private ( let aside being watched live by millions) and she shoots him ( or other lethal means) then that’s a bit harsh. If she slaps his face then that’s expected. Twas ever thus. That may be abuse if administered repeatedly, but I can’t see Mr Smith getting into the habit of slapping TV presenters.
Also..... that “someone in the Audience” was his wife, who was evidently hurt by the insult, and was not likely to fight back. In that “ context” I still stand with Will . Let it be a lesson to anyone who thinks it’s Ok to go around insulting other people’s wife’s.

 

[Eskimo John]

Firstly I am not OK with any violence whatsoever. This includes the verbal kind. So in my view the first violence was rendered by the comedian. Secondly, nowhere in my post did I defend Smiths slap. His responce was over the top. Read my previous posts. Thirdly, to attack a woman suffering an unpleasant disease who was there as a guest is cruel and deeply offensive to me and so how much worse would it be for her husband.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Back in the day it would have been pistols at dawn!

 

[Kerby]

Funny, that was exactly what was in my head when I posted

 

[Chippy_Tea]

(CNN)After slapping presenter Chris Rock on stage at last weekend's Academy Awards, Will Smith announced in a statement Friday that he has resigned from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences.

"I am resigning from membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate," Smith said in a statement shared with CNN by his publicist.

Smith's statement concluded, "Change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason."

After the embarrassing episode at Sunday night's Oscars, The Academy announced on Wednesday that it had "initiated disciplinary proceedings" against Smith.

David Rubin, President, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, said in a statement Friday that the organization has received and accepted Smith's "immediate resignation."

"We will continue to move forward with our disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy's Standards of Conduct, in advance of our next scheduled board meeting on April 18," Rubin added.

Disciplinary actions by the Academy include suspension or expulsion, along with "other sanctions permitted by the Bylaws and Standards of Conduct," the organization said.

Instead, Smith has willingly left the acclaimed organization of movie stars, directors and producers. By resigning, Smith will no longer be able to vote on Oscar-nominated movies and performances each year. His work, however, will still be eligible for future Oscars consideration and nominations.

His statement read in full:
"I have directly responded to the Academy's disciplinary hearing notice, and I will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct. My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were 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. 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. I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film. So, I am resigning from membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate. Change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason."

Friday's statement was by far Smith's most contrite take on the matter.

He initially apologized to the Academy during his televised acceptance speech for best actor, about forty minutes after the slap. But in that speech, he did not apologize to Rock.

Smith publicly apologized to Rock the next day via social media.

But he was much more critical of himself on Friday, calling his actions "shocking, painful, and inexcusable."

CNN's Chloe Melas contributed to this story