After last night’s violent incident at the Academy Awards between Will Smith and Chris Rock, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) attempted to call out the violence, while distancing themselves from taking any action on the altercation.
The Academy is against violence in any form.
We’re proud to present the Academy Awards winners of the 94th Academy Awards, which are well-deserving recognition from movie buffs around world.
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 28, 2022
Talking failing to read the room… or their replies. Smith’s foolish and over-the-top choice pretty much ruined the celebration for many; especially those newly initiated into the rare air of the Academy, like the Questove, the winner of the Best Documentary Feature Oscar for Summer of Soul, that the “slap heard round the world” helped to disrupt. You can also see: CODATroy Kotsur won for Best Supporting actor, Sian Heder was awarded Best Adapted Screenplay.
It’s as simple and effective as one commentator said:
Why not? Then, one member strikes another. Next, you allow the assailant to remain there as the centre of attention for 90 minutes. Nobody made any condemning comments. You then gave him an award, and stood ovation. Is that the condoning?
— Peter Schink (@PeterRSchink) March 28, 2022
Marshall Herskovitz was the writer-director and took to Twitter for advice.
Will Smith is being reprimanded by my Academy. Tonight, he disgraced the entire community.
— Marshall Herskovitz (@MHerskovitz) March 28, 2022
And Whoopi Goldberg, who is not only an Academy member, but part of the governing body, said on Monday’s The View that, “We’re not going to take that Oscar from him. There will be consequences, I’m sure.”
There was no doubt that other members had also contributed privately. AMPAS then changed their tune and published this information today:
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences says it condemns the actions of Will Smith during Sunday night’s Oscars and it will launch a formal review of his slapping of presenter Chris Rock.
In a statement Monday, the film academy said it will also “explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law.”
Yeah. Sure, Jan.
Herskovitz made a mistake here. Will Smith was not a disgrace to their whole community. They have been dishonest and tolerated worse than pimp slaps and swear words. The Academy has known this for years. Many of these people remain a part. It’s an open secret.
According to reports Harvey Weinstein was the last one publicly disciplined at the Academy. This was due to him no longer being a cash cow and was an PR nightmare for them.
After 19 years of harassments, threats and obscene behavior towards actresses, they finally expelled him from their ranks in October 2017.
What if the #MeToo movement was not enacted and the current winds of cultural change? Doubtful.
The Academy still has Woody Allen as a member, according to my last check. Although Allen has publicly and privately mocked them, this supposedly principled organization has been after Allen for years, issuing Oscar after Oscar. Allen was famously accused of molestation by Mia Farrow (his ex-paramour) and Dylan Farrow (their adopted daughter). Many of Allen’s movies are about romances between middle-aged, awkward men. Life imitating art or art imitating living? Soon-Yi Previn is another adopted child of Mia Farrow. Allen had an affair with Previn when he was only twenty-four years old.
While the Academy doesn’t condone violence in any way, it does turn a blinder to those who are sexually deviant.
The same geniuses gave Roman Polanski a standing ovation at the 2012 Academy Awards, where he won the Best Director prize. Polanski was absent. He had fled the country in 1978 in order to escape rape charges.
Starting at New York Post:
Polanski, 88, won the Oscar for Best Director in 2003 for his work on “The Pianist.” However, he didn’t attend the ceremony because he fled the US in 1978 following a rape charge. Harrison Ford accepted the award on Polanksi’s behalf and the filmmaker received a standing ovation.
Goldberg added his voice to the discussion, as well. The View back in 2012 that what Polanski did really wasn’t, “rape rape.”
Uh Huh.
Therefore, If Whoopi is an example of The Academy Board of Governors views, you can expect Will Smith to receive a slap on both wrists about as serious as Chris Rock’s.
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