'Oscar Assault' Will Smith, Will His Best Actor Award Be Revoked?

AMPAS, Official Investigation Launched
Public Apology to Rock One Day Later

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), which oversees the American Academy Awards, launched an official investigation into Will Smith's assault incident on the 28th (local time).

AMPAS issued a statement that day condemning Smith's behavior at the ceremony the previous day. At the 94th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles (LA), comedian Chris Rock, who was presenting an award, made a joke about Smith's wife shaving her head due to hair loss symptoms. Smith then stormed the stage and slapped Rock's cheek.

There is also a possibility that Smith's Best Actor award won the previous day could be revoked. He won his first-ever Academy Award for Best Actor for the film King Richard, in which he portrayed Richard Williams, the father who raised tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams.

AMPAS shared organizational rules stating that it plans to review additional measures according to internal regulations, codes of conduct, and California state law, and that it has the authority to revoke awards posthumously. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) explained, "Even if the disciplinary level does not reach the extent of revoking the Academy Award, AMPAS can temporarily or permanently suspend Smith's eligibility for future awards."

As criticism continued over Smith's aggressive behavior, he publicly apologized to Rock the day after the ceremony. The previous day, while accepting the Best Actor award, he apologized to the organizers and attendees but made no mention of Rock and even attended the after-party.

On Instagram that day, Smith mentioned Rock, saying, "I want to apologize publicly. My behavior was unacceptable and inexcusable." However, he also explained, "Taking jokes directed at me is part of my profession, but I felt the joke about my wife's condition was too much, so I reacted emotionally."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.