Will Smith REFUSED TO LEAVE Oscars when Academy asked him after Chris Rock slap
BREAKING: Will Smith ASKED TO LEAVE the Oscars but REFUSED, the Academy says, as they rule he broke their code of conduct, please subscribe to my channel and ring the bell so you NEVER miss a live!
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Will Smith was asked to leave the Oscars after hitting Chris Rock but refused, the Academy said on Wednesday - also declaring that he had violated their code of conduct.
The 53-year-old actor marched onto the stage on Sunday and hit Rock, after Rock told a joke about Smith's wife.
Shortly after, Smith was announced as the winner of the best actor award and went up to collect his statuette to a standing ovation from many of his peers.
On Wednesday the Academy said it had launched 'disciplinary procedures' against Smith, and confirmed he ignored their request for him to leave his seat.
Rock, who is yet to respond to Smith's attack or his apology, will be on stage in Boston on Wednesday night for his first show since the incident.
'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,' their statement said.
'Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, [but] we also recognize we could have handled the situation differently.'
Smith will receive 15 days notice of a vote as well as an opportunity to be heard by written response.
At the next board meeting - scheduled for April 18 - the Academy may take action that could include 'suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions permitted by the Bylaws and Standards of Conduct.'
In his acceptance speech, Smith apologized to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - whose members vote for the awards, and who stages the ceremony - but stopped short of apologizing to Rock.
Smith initially laughed off the attack, writing on Instagram on Sunday evening: 'You can't invite people from Philly or Baltimore nowhere!!'
Yet as the gravity of the situation became clear, Smith then posted a public apology to Instagram 24 hours after the ceremony, saying he wanted to say sorry formally to Rock.
Condemnation of Smith has grown in the intervening days.
In his acceptance speech, Smith apologized to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - whose members vote for the awards, and who stages the ceremony - but stopped short of apologizing to Rock.
Smith initially laughed off the attack, writing on Instagram on Sunday evening: 'You can't invite people from Philly or Baltimore nowhere!!'
Yet as the gravity of the situation became clear, Smith then posted a public apology to Instagram 24 hours after the ceremony, saying he wanted to say sorry formally to Rock.
Condemnation of Smith has grown in the intervening days.