Academy President Calls Will Smith Slap "Unacceptable," Response Was "Inadequate"

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94th Annual Academy Awards - Show
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Will Smith accepts the Actor in a Leading Role award for ‘King Richard’ onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
Ahead of this year's ceremony, Janet Yang says the Academy gave an "inadequate" response to the incident & the scandal that followed.

We're quickly approaching this year's Oscars ceremony and unsurprisingly, Will Smith is a hot topic. On year ago, the acclaimed actor became irate with Chris Rock in th middle of the show's airing. He was seen taking to the Oscars stage and slapping Rock before returning to his seat. Smith was able to finish out the show in the audience and even took home the award for Best Actor. It was a bittersweet moment as his accomplishment was applauded while simultaneously facing ridicule.

The controversy that unfolded afterward was the biggest fallout of Smith's career. Rock still hasn't directly addressed the incident, and it's rumored that won't happen until his next Netflix special airs. Recently, The Academy hosted its 2023 Oscars Nominees Luncheon, and during the event, its president Janet Yang spoke about last year's controvery.

US-ENTERTAINMENT-FILM-OSCARS-SHOW
US actor Will Smith accepts the award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for "King Richard" onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
Read More: Vivica Fox Cries Over Will Smith Oscars Slap, Says Jada Has Taken “No Accountability”

Hollywood's elite was in attendance to celebrate the March ceremony. “I’m sure you all remember we experienced an unprecedented event at the Oscars,” said Yang. “What happened onstage was fully unacceptable and the response from our organization was inadequate. We learned from this that the Academy must be fully transparent and accountable in our actions, and particularly in times of crisis you must act swiftly, compassionately and decisively for ourselves and for our industry. You should and can expect no less form us going forward.”

Immediately following the slapping incident, Smith released a statement apologizing for his behavior. His future with The Academy hung in the balance until they revealed the actor's punishment. Not only would his membership be revoked, but he was banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years. It was a blow to Smith, who has been hailed for his unblemished Hollywood record until that time.

94th Annual Academy Awards - Show
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Will Smith appears to slap Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
Read More: Will Smith Opens Up About Oscar’s Slap: “Hurt People Hurt People”

“The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year," The Academy previously said in a statement last year. "However, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behavior we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage. During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. For this, we are sorry. This was an opportunity for us to set an example for our guests, viewers and our Academy family around the world, and we fell short — unprepared for the unprecedented.”

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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.