Oscars president admits response to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock was “inadequate”

nme.com:

Oscars president Janet Yang has admitted that the organisation’s response to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards was “inadequate”.During the ceremony, Smith took the stage and slapped Rock across the face after the latter made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head.

After the slap, Smith returned to his seat and repeatedly yelled at Rock: “Keep my wife’s name out your fucking mouth!”The event continued as normal after the incident, with Smith remaining in attendance and later going on to win Best Actor for his performance in King Richard.Speaking to attendees at the 2023 Oscar Nominees Luncheon, Yang admitted that the Academy did not handle the situation properly.“I’m sure you all remember we experienced an unprecedented event at the Oscars,” she told the star-studded audience (via Variety). “What happened onstage was fully unacceptable and the response from our organisation 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.”Smith resigned from the Academy on April 1, 2022, writing in a statement: “I betrayed the trust of the Academy.

I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken.”It took the Academy several more days to announce that Smith’s membership had been revoked, banning him from attending the Oscars for the next 10 years.“The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year; however,.