Academy Dragged After Stating Will Smith Was Asked to Leave the Oscars: ‘Asked by Whom?’

thewrap.com:

said it had begun disciplinary hearings against the Oscar-winning “King Richard” star after his on-stage slapping of Chris Rock (who made a joke directed at Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair, despite her alopecia diagnosis), adding that Smith could face various sanctions for violating code of conduct, including suspension and expulsion.  “Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated,” the Academy said in a statement. “While we would like to clarify that Mr.

Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognize we could have handled the situation differently.”It didn’t take long for people to chime in with their thoughts, offering bewilderment at the organization’s inability to properly lead its own ceremony. “This might be even worse, if true or not exaggerated,” one Twitter user wrote. “The Academy made a decision, failed to execute it, then continued on?!?!”“Academy now says it ‘asked’ Will Smith to leave #Oscars but doesn’t say how,” said Puck News founding partner Matthew Belloni. “Suggesting to a publicist is NOT the same as the show producer or Academy president walking over and respectfully telling him what needs to happen.”See other reaction below.Asked to leave by whom?I once got into a fight in a London pub in my late 20s. (Those of you who've met me know how hilarious that sentence is).

The bouncer asked me to leave. Lemme tell ya, question is not debatable. Did they whisper this to Will Smith?https://t.co/oNqoln2TSB"the integrity of the Academy." pic.twitter.com/zLeDKMNJcbHe “refused to leave” and they just said OK and then let him sit and laugh and win his award and cry?