Will Smith was reportedly ordered to leave the Oscars venue after slapping presenter Chris Rock in the face.
On Sunday night, the King Richard star sparked outrage as he physically assaulted the 94th Academy Awards host Chris Rock after the latter made a joke at the expense of his wife’s medical condition.
Moments after his on-air assault, Smith claimed his Best Actor Oscar and received a standing ovation from the audience.
Now, however, the Academy confirmed that the A-lister was ordered to leave the venue after his attack but refused.
“Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, [but] we also recognize we could have handled the situation differently,” the organization revealed.
The Academy further said that disciplinary proceedings against Smith have since been launched.
“The Board of Governors today initiated disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, including inappropriate physical contact, abusive or threatening behavior, and compromising the integrity of the Academy,” the statement read.
While it remains unclear what disciplinary actions the actor will now face, the Academy hasn’t ruled out “suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions permitted by the Bylaws and Standards of Conduct.”
As it has been confirmed, Will Smith could potentially be expelled from the organization and banned from its future events including the Oscars.
Though the actor initially failed to apologize to Rock or acknowledge that what he did was wrong, he shared a public apology on Instagram a day after the unfortunate incident.
In his apology, Smith admitted that his actions were “inexcusable” and “unacceptable” and went on to apologize to Rock, the Academy, and the viewers around the world.
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