ban

The Academy reprimanded Will Smith for his Oscars slap incident with comedian Chris Rock.

After the disciplinary hearing, which West Coast rapper The Game strongly opposed, The Board of Governors for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences announced on Friday (Apr. 8) that the King Richard actor, who assaulted Chris Rock at the 94th Oscars awards show, will be banned for ten years from all Academy events including the Oscars.

Will Smith Remains Eligible For Awards Despite His Ban

Variety reports that Will Smith, who resigned from The Academy on Apr. 1, will likely keep his Best Actor Oscar. This award is for his performance in the biopic on Serena and Venus Williams’ father, Richard Williams. Smith is safe from sanctions because the Oscars do not have the legal authority to take action. Therefore, after the ban goes into effect on Apr. 8, Smith will still be eligible to receive nominations and win Oscars in the future.

Furthermore, Will Smith reportedly responded in a statement saying, “I accept and respect the Academy’s decision.”

The actor, who described his emotional state as “Heartbroken,” received criticism from several celebrities for his slap on Chris Rock. The slap responded to a joke Rock made about Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head.

In a recent interview with Drink Champs, Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky expresses disappointment in Will Smith regarding how he handled a disagreement with a fellow Black man.

“I’m a fan of Will, Jada, Chris, all of them. They OGs,” Rocky said, as seen in the clip posted to Instagram. “I think it’s unfortunate that, like, he emasculated another Black man in front of all them people like that. But I do think that, like, it’s some built-up shit that probably wasn’t really targeted at Chris Rock. I don’t know. … Like what you said, it seems like it’s more than just a G.I. Jane joke.”

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Commentary From Chris Rock’s Brother, Tony Rock, Concerning The Incident At The Academy

In addition, at the premiere of his documentary Still Rolling Papers, Wiz Khalifa also attempted to make light of the situation. However, he warned audience members not to approach the stage or risk getting shot for running upon him.

Moreover, Tony Rock, Chris Rock’s brother, commented on the event during a recent stand-up performance. He said if he had been present at the Oscars, he would have been unable to maintain his composure.

“If you think you going to walk up on this stage, this ain’t the muthaf**king Oscars!” Tony Rock said. “And if you walk your a*s up here, you ain’t nominated for sh*t but these muthaf**king hands! Oh, we going to pop the rest of the year, n**ga. Every time you see me do a show, pop!”

He continued,

“You gonna hit my muthaf**king brother because your bi**h gave you a side-eye?”

View the full clip below regarding Tony Rock’s opinion on the Oscars incident.

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Written by Nikiya Biggs

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Rap Music and Violence

The implication that rap music sparks violence, is far from new. In the 1990s, groups like N.W.A elicited the same response. People protested and insisted radio stations stop playing rap that encourages violent behavior. The current reaction to drill rappers is similar. However, others argue that the music itself isn’t causing violence. The primary attribute of the subgenre existing is storytelling. Specifically, the purpose is to tell the stories of disenfranchised communities.

In the Instagram clip, Mayor Adams said he and the drill artists he met with, would “roll out something together soon.”