“Our response was out of order”: The Hollywood Academy says it mismanaged Will Smith’s slap to Chris Rock a year after the event

As a year approaches the end of one of the most controversial events in Oscars history, Will Smith’s slap to Chris Rock, the Hollywood Academy acknowledges the mishandling of the situation at the 2022 ceremony.

“Our response was not up to the task,” Janet Yang, president of the Oscars, admitted in recent statements recalling what happened at the awards’ 94th gala held March 27 last year at the Teatro Dolby .

Chris Rock refuses to host and attend Oscars at the invitation of the Academy

Yang’s thoughtful words came during lunch from the 2023 Oscar nominees.

“What we experienced last year was unacceptable and our response was inadequate. It was a turning point to act with more transparency and accountability,” he said, according to media sources such as El Tiempo, who quoted the international agency EFE.

According to Janet’s statements, the organization must act in times of crisis with “speed, compassion and decisiveness”.

“This is a family and the values ​​of faith, unity and solidarity between the industry and the spectators prevail,” the president added.

In this way, they acknowledge that they did not act correctly and that they have ‘learned from their mistakes’.

Will Smith and Chris Rock’s clap at the 2022 Oscars

The night of the ceremony went normally until host Chris Rock’s comments to Jada Pinkett Smith aroused the actor’s annoyance.

Rock jokingly referred to the appearance of Jada, Will Smith’s wife, who attended the event with a shaved head.

It was then that Smith took the stage and starred in the episode to a stunned audience who couldn’t quite understand if it was a prank by the protagonist of ‘I am legend’.

Minutes later, he returned to the stage to receive the “Best Actor” award for his role in the movie “King Richard”.

The Academy and Will Smith’s veto

At the time, social networks were cracking down on the actor and it wasn’t long before the memes started appearing while the Academy was silent.

It was not until days later that the organization spoke out. This time, the Hollywood Academy announced the sanction that would affect Will Smith’s career. The actor will not be allowed to participate in the Oscars for the next ten years.

The 95th Oscars will be held at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles on March 12, 2023.

Janet Yang did not clarify during lunch with the nominees for this edition whether they will lift Will Smith’s suspension so that he can attend another ceremony later.