Will Smith Academy

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is moving up an annual meeting by 10 days to address possible sanctions for Will Smith.

The April 18 date was set in accordance with California law and our Standards of Conduct because our agenda included possible suspension or expulsion of Mr. Smith from membership. We were required to provide Mr. Smith notice 15 days prior to the board meeting at which such action might be taken, and also give him the opportunity to provide the board a written statement no less than five days prior to that meeting. “The April 18 date was set in accordance with California law and our Standards of Conduct because our agenda included possible suspension or expulsion of Mr. Smith from membership,” Rubin wrote (see his full letter below). “We were required to provide Mr. Smith notice 15 days prior to the board meeting at which such action might be taken, and also give him the opportunity to provide the board a written statement no less than five days prior to that meeting.” I am calling a board meeting for this Friday morning, April 8, at 9:00 am PT, rather than the previously scheduled April 18 meeting, to address possible sanctions for Will Smith in response to his actions during the Oscars broadcast on March 27. In the aftermath of the wild incident, the Academy that night released a statement saying it “does not condone violence of any form.” Smith also apologized for his actions, though not to Rock. On March 29, there was a short virtual meeting between Smith, Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson that was initiated by Smith. Smith has already resigned from the Academy after the incident, which occurred after Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith onstage at the March 27 ceremony on CBS while in comments ahead of presenting the Documentary Feature Oscar. Smith got up from his front-row seat, walked up to Rock and hit him with an open hand, then returned to his seat.

Originally scheduled for April 18, the meeting of the Board of Governors to determine “possible sanctions” will take place Friday.

Smith made the surprise announcement last Friday that he would resign from the Academy, adding that he “will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate.” Before Smith walked away voluntarily, it seemed likely that a suspension from the Academy would happen, if not outright expulsion; only five people have previously been expelled from the Academy, among them Roman Polanski and Harvey Weinstein. But, as Rubin alludes to in his letter, the Academy will have to think more creatively if they still want to add additional sanctions—like potentially making his upcoming projects ineligible for Oscar consideration, or banning him from future Oscar ceremonies. It is in the best interest of all involved for this to be handled in a timely fashion.” But seemingly recognizing even more urgency in dealing with sanctions for Will Smith following his violent Oscar night outburst, they’ve moved the meeting up even earlier, to April 8, according to a letter obtained by Variety.

The Academy has moved up the board meeting to discuss the Will Smith slap controversy during the Oscars telecast following his resignation.

The April 18 date was set in accordance with California law and our Standards of Conduct because our agenda included possible suspension or expulsion of Mr. Smith from membership. It is in the best interest of all involved for this to be handled in a timely fashion.” Originally scheduled to meet on April 18, in a letter obtained exclusively by Variety, the move comes after Smith’s resignation from the Academy.

Pinkett Smith has alopecia, an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss. Rock declined to file a police report, and Oscars producer Will Packer said Rock did ...

Smith apologized in the days after the Oscars, saying “a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear.” When he resigned from the Academy on Friday, Smith said he betrayed the organization’s trust, and “will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate.” Though Smith resigned, the Academy can still prevent him from attending future award shows and events, or even revoke his Oscar for Best Actor, which Smith won shortly after hitting Rock. Rock declined to file a police report, and Oscars producer Will Packer said Rock did not want Smith to be removed from the ceremony. Oscars Producer Will Packer Says Chris Rock Didn’t Want Will Smith To Be Removed From Ceremony (Forbes)

The Academy Board of Governors will meet April 8 to discuss disciplinary action against Will Smith.

The April 18 date was set in accordance with California law and our Standards of Conduct because our agenda included possible suspension or expulsion of Mr. Smith from membership. I am calling a board meeting for this Friday morning, April 8, at 9:00 am PT, rather than the previously scheduled April 18 meeting, to address possible sanctions for Will Smith in response to his actions during the Oscars broadcast on March 27. The Academy approved Smith’s resignation, writing, “We have received and accepted Mr. Will Smith’s immediate resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 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.”

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president David Rubin said, 'It is in the best interest of all involved for this to be handled in a timely ...

Unacceptable conduct includes "physical contact that is uninvited and, in the situation, inappropriate and unwelcome." My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful and inexcusable. The Academy stated, "Members should act in a manner consistent with the good reputation of the Academy."

The nine-time Oscar host addressed the “most disturbing incident” during an appearance on Bob Costas's 'Back on the Record.'

Crystal had previously alluded to the slap during the curtain call at a dress rehearsal for his new Broadway show, Mr. Saturday Night, telling the audience, “We got through a show and no one got slapped. Crystal also remembered hosting a Grammys where both comedian Jackie Mason and musician Little Richard made “inflammatory” remarks onstage. Now nine-time Academy Awards emcee Billy Crystal has addressed the “most disturbing incident” while appearing on Bob Costas’s Back on the Record.