Moviefone Editorial

Tag: 94th Academy Awards

  • Will Smith Banned from Attending the Oscars for 10 Years

    Will Smith accepts the Oscar
    Will Smith accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Kyusung Gong / A.M.P.A.S.

    After resigning from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences a week ago for slapping comedian Chris Rock at this year’s Oscar ceremony, the Board of Governors has decided that Will Smith will not be allowed to attend the ceremony again for 10 years.

    You can read the full statement below from Academy president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson:

    The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year; however, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behavior we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage.

    During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. For this, we are sorry. This was an opportunity for us to set an example for our guests, viewers and our Academy family around the world, and we fell short — unprepared for the unprecedented.

    Today, the Board of Governors convened a meeting to discuss how best to respond to Will Smith’s actions at the Oscars, in addition to accepting his resignation. The Board has decided, for a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards.

    We want to express our deep gratitude to Mr. Rock for maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances. We also want to thank our hosts, nominees, presenters and winners for their poise and grace during our telecast.

    This action we are taking today in response to Will Smith’s behavior is a step toward a larger goal of protecting the safety of our performers and guests and restoring trust in the Academy. We also hope this can begin a time of healing and restoration for all involved and impacted.

    Of course, given Smith’s resignation, the Academy’s options were severely limited – it’s hard to sanction someone who no longer belongs to your organization.

    Will Smith accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role
    Will Smith accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Blaine Ohigashi / A.M.P.A.S.

    And we’re sure there are those who would have preferred a more substantial response – a lifetime ban, for example, or refusing to re-admit him to the organization at all.

    For his part, Smith offered a succinct statement on the new move. “I accept and respect the Academy’s decision,” he said. You can imagine his publicists hovering over his shoulder – or writing it for him to sign off on.

    It’s a far cry from his emotional Instagram apology or the rambling, emphatic speech he gave upon winning Best Actor, which included nods to what had happened previously in the evening and included an apologetic line: “I want to apologize to the Academy. I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees.”

    The Academy seems unlikely to stem the calls for more action – and we’re still waiting to find out what his acting union, SAG-AFTRA decides. He may end up banned from events including the Screen Actors Guild awards for just as many years. And it’s notable that the Academy statement isn’t a blanket ban on Smith being nominated in future.

    In the wake of various companies and studios pulling back from or hitting pause on projects with the actor, his chances aren’t great for the foreseeable future, though he does still have Apple historical drama ‘Emancipation’ in the can. The tech company has yet to decide what to do with the Antoine Fuqua-directed movie.

    That said, with an Oscar and a haul of other awards for his role as Venus and Serena Williams’ father Richard in ‘King Richard’ it’s not like Smith needs to attend many more awards ceremonies anyway. It’s notable that the Academy chose not to rescind his trophy – though there have been previous winners who committed far more heinous acts who still have their Oscars.

    There also continues to be differences of opinion as to what actually happened on the night following the slap, with the Academy board saying it had wanted the actor to leave but primary producer Will Packer leaving the control booth to specifically tell Smith that’s not what everyone preferred.

    Rock, meanwhile, is still staying mostly quiet about the incident, aside from a few sneaky references while continuing his current stand-up tour. He’s said that he’s still “processing” what happens, so whenever he’s ready to talk, you know he’ll be a popular interviewee.

    Chris Rock at the Oscars
    Chris Rock presents the Oscar® for Documentary Feature during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Blaine Ohigashi / A.M.P.A.S.

  • Film Academy Moves Will Smith Disciplinary Hearing Date Up

    Will Smith reacts to winning the Oscar
    Will Smith reacts to winning the Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Kyusung Gong / A.M.P.A.S.

    If Will Smith thought that resigning from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences following the fallout of his slapping incident at the Oscars might avoid any consequences from that organization’s board, he’ll have to think again.

    The Academy Board has decided to move up its disciplinary hearing from the originally planned April 18 to this Friday, April 8. That’s because since Smith resigned, the board is no longer required to give him advanced notice of the meeting, nor wait for him to provide a statement about his actions five days before such a meeting.

    Here’s the message sent to the Governors by Academy president David Rubin, as acquired by Variety.

    “Dear Fellow Governors,

    I am calling a board meeting for this Friday morning, April 8, at 9:00 am PT, rather than the previously scheduled April 18 meeting, to address possible sanctions for Will Smith in response to his actions during the Oscars broadcast on March 27.

    The April 18 date was set in accordance with California law and our Standards of Conduct because our agenda included possible suspension or expulsion of Mr. Smith from membership. We were required to provide Mr. Smith notice 15 days prior to the board meeting at which such action might be taken, and also give him the opportunity to provide the board a written statement no less than five days prior to that meeting.

    Following Mr. Smith’s resignation of his Academy membership on Friday, April 1, suspension or expulsion are no longer a possibility and the legally prescribed timetable no longer applies.

    It is in the best interest of all involved for this to be handled in a timely fashion.”

    Will Smith accepts the Oscar
    Will Smith accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Kyusung Gong / A.M.P.A.S.

    As mentioned by the letter, since Smith is no longer part of the Academy, it can’t suspend or expel him. Still, there may well be further consequences, including an indefinite exclusion from future Oscar events, and even – though highly unlikely at this point – a demand he returns his Best Actor Oscar for ‘King Richard’.

    For the three people who aren’t yet aware of the trigger point for all of this, Smith took to the Oscars stage on March 27th after Best Documentary award presenter Chris Rock made jokes about the actor’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith that referenced her shaved head. Pinkett Smith has alopecia and Smith, clearly unamused by the jokes, confronted Rock, slapped him and then returned to his seat, shouting, “Keep my wife’s name out of your [expletive] mouth.”

    Minutes later, however, Smith was back on stage, tearfully accepted his Oscar and apologizing to the Academy and other nominees, though without mentioning Rock. He’s since put out a statement on Instagram mentioning the comedian and past Oscar host.

    And we’re also waiting to see whether Smith’s acting union, SAG-AFTRA makes its own decisions about disciplinary action.

    Beyond that, studios and production companies are currently backing away from projects that involve the actor – while Apple is likely to still release the movie ‘Emancipation’ in which he stars, Sony is considering whether to go ahead with a fourth ‘Bad Boys’ movie and Netflix has shoved an in-development movie called ‘Fast and Loose’ to the backburner.

    Though it’s probable that the heat will cool on the incident, the ramifications will continue for the foreseeable future.

    Denzel Washington and Will Smith
    Denzel Washington and Will Smith during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Kyusung Gong / A.M.P.A.S.

  • Studios Pausing Will Smith Projects in Wake of Oscar Incident

    Will Smith at Oscars
    94th Oscars® nominee Will Smith at the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo credit: Blaine Ohigashi / A.M.P.A.S.

    The fallout of the most infamous Oscar incident for years continues to be felt in Hollywood. A week since Will Smith strode on stage to slap comedian Chris Rock after the latter made a joke about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith and her bald head – a reaction to alopecia – studios are curbing their enthusiasm for working with the actor.

    While Smith has been attempting damage control in the wake of the slap – he apologized while accepting his Best Actor Oscar for ‘King Richard’ and then again – including Rock – on his Instagram page. And then he resigned from the academy ahead of any potential sanction from the group (he’s still likely to face disciplinary action from there and his acting union, SAG-AFTRA).

    But that hasn’t been enough to make studios and streamers want to stay in business with him in the wake of the incident.

    Netflix had set up a crime thriller called ‘Fast and Loose’ with Smith aboard to star and ‘Deadpool 2’s David Leitch directing. The movie planned to tell the story of a crime boss (Smith) who loses his memory after an attack. Piecing together clues, he discovers that he has led a double identity as a wealthy kingpin and a broke CIA agent.

    Leitch had pulled out of directing coincidentally before the Oscar weekend (according to The Hollywood Reporter’ because a project at Universal called ‘Fall Guy’ with Ryan Gosling starring had moved ahead in his schedule), but Netflix, confident that Smith would end up winning Best Actor, had started an urgent hunt for a replacement filmmaker to keep the movie on track.

    Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith
    Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Al Seib / A.M.P.A.S.

    Yet now, ‘Fast and Loose’ is firmly on the back burner, at least in terms of Smith’s involvement. The company may well aim to have it up and running again with a new duo but appears happy to let the dust settle first.

    Similar, Sony had been looking to get a fourth installment of the ‘Bad Boys’ franchise moving as quickly as possible following the box office success of ‘Bad Boys for Life’, which became one of the biggest earners in 2020 before the pandemic tool hold.

    Smith had reportedly received script pages for the movie ahead of the Oscars, with the movie in active development, but all that is now on pause. The next ‘Bad Boys’ represents even more of a challenge than ‘Fast and Loose’, since Smith is (alongside Martin Lawrence) one of the recognizable icons of the franchise.

    And then there are the variety of other projects that Smith was attached to, movies in different stages of development (the ‘Bright’ sequel and a remake of ‘Planes, Trains & Automobiles’ among them) as both actor and, to a far greater degree, producer. It remains to be seen whether they move ahead without them, or, in the cases where he’s just a producer, quietly remove his name or proceed anyway.

    Right now, it appears few people want to be in the Will Smith business. How long that will continue is anyone’s guess at this point.

    Will Smith accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role
    Will Smith accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Blaine Ohigashi / A.M.P.A.S.
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  • Will Smith Resigns from Academy

    Will Smith accepts the Oscar
    Will Smith accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Al Seib / A.M.P.A.S.

    On Friday afternoon, almost a week after slapping Chris Rock in the face during the Oscars broadcast, Will Smith has officially resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

    The actor, who won Best Actor on Sunday for his work in ‘King Richard,’ is facing “disciplinary proceedings” from the Academy’s Board of Governors, who were to decide his fate during at a meeting on April 18th. Smith may still receive punishment from the Board, but has formally left the organization.

    Below is Smith’s full statement, which was provided to Deadline:

    “I have directly responded to the Academy’s disciplinary hearing notice, and I will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct. My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable.

    The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home. 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. I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film.

    So, I am resigning from membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate. Change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason.”

    This comes on the heels of a sometimes heated virtual meeting of the more than 50 Governors including the likes of Steven Spielberg, Ava DuVernay and Rita Wilson, after which Smith was informed that he had 15 days to respond in writing to their assertion that he violated the Academy’s standards of conduct with his violent behavior on March 27th. The group then was scheduled to meet on April 18th to decide next steps.

    And yet, while expulsion had been put forward as a consequence, there has never been an indication that Smith will lose his Best Actor Oscar for ‘King Richard’. He will, however, no longer be extended the traditional invite to the previous year’s Best Actor winner to hand over Best Actress at next year’s 95th ceremony.

    Plus, Smith’s resignation doesn’t mean he’s entirely free of consequences. “We have received and accepted Mr. Will Smith’s immediate resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences,” said AMPAS president David Rubin on Friday. “We will continue to move forward with our disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, in advance of our next scheduled board meeting on April 18th.” So there could yet be more ramifications to come.

    And the Academy itself, along with main 2022 show producer Will Packer are hardly covering themselves in glory either, with conflicting accounts of whether Smith was asked to leave the Oscar ceremony. Packer went on ‘Good Morning America’ and said Rock hadn’t wanted the actor ejected, but Deadline has sources that say that no such conversation occurred.

    It’s really turning into they said, he said, someone else said on this issue…

    Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards.
    Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards. Photo via Twitter.

  • Will Smith was “Asked to Leave” Oscars Ceremony After Slapping Incident

    Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith
    Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Al Seib / A.M.P.A.S.

    The ramifications of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at last weekend’s Oscars continue to reverberate. And now the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which oversees the awards, has made another statement about Sunday night’s incident and its response.

    Following up its plan to convene a meeting of the Academy’s board to discuss the matter, the group outlines what steps it could take to sanction Smith for his actions on the night.

    “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.

    “Consistent with the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, as well as California law, Mr. Smith is being provided at least 15 days’ notice of a vote regarding his violations and sanctions, and the opportunity to be heard beforehand by means of a written response. At the next board meeting on April 18th, the Academy may take any disciplinary action, which may include suspension, expulsion, or other sanctions permitted by the Bylaws and Standards of Conduct.

    “Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television. Mr. Rock, we apologize to you for what you experienced on our stage and thank you for your resilience in that moment. We also apologize to our nominees, guests and viewers for what transpired during what should have been a celebratory event.”

    Will Smith accepts the Oscar
    Will Smith accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Al Seib / A.M.P.A.S.

    It went on to remark that attempts were made to have Smith leave the Dolby Theater in the immediate aftermath. “Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated,” continued the 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.”

    That has led to much outrage and mockery online about the response, which is being widely seen as inadequate.

    Rock, meanwhile, hasn’t made a formal statement on the matter, but took to the stage for a stand-up show in Boston Wednesday evening and addressed the matter.

    “How was your weekend?” he said, winking, drawing a wave of laughter. “I don’t have a bunch of [expletive] about what happened, so if you came to hear that, I have a whole show I wrote before this weekend. I’m still kind of processing what happened. So, at some point I’ll talk about that [expletive]. And it will be serious and funny.”

    And, at his second show, Rock revealed that despite earlier reports of a rapprochement between Smith and the comedian, there hasn’t been contact. “I haven’t talked to anyone despite what you may have heard,” he told the audience.

    While Smith apologized to the Academy and the audience during his speech upon winning Best Actor on the night, and then to Rock via Instagram, this is one incident that seems destined to keep making news for a while to come.

    Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards.
    Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards. Photo via Twitter.

  • Will Smith Apologizes for Oscar Night Slapping Incident

    Will Smith accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role
    Will Smith accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Blaine Ohigashi / A.M.P.A.S.

    The story of Will Smith vs. Chris Rock at Sunday night’s Oscars continues to rumble on. And now Smith, who, after taking offense to a joke Rock made about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, walked onto the stage and slapped him, has formally apologized to the actor/comedian for his actions.

    Taking to Instagram, Smith wrote,

    Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.

    I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.

    I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us.

    I am a work in progress.

    Yet all the apologies in the world are unlikely to stave off responses from the likes of the Academy, which has opened an inquiry into the incident, kicking off with a formal statement. “The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night’s show. We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law.”

    Chris Rock at the Oscars
    Chris Rock presents the Oscar® for Documentary Feature during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Blaine Ohigashi / A.M.P.A.S.

    Though it appears unlikely that the Academy will revoke his Best Actor Oscar for ‘King Richard’, there is always the chance he may be suspended from attending events, voting in future Oscars, or, at worse, kicked out of the organization.

    And that’s not his only concern at this point – his acting union SAG-AFTRA, went further with its own statement. “As the union representing presenters and other performers working on the Oscars, SAG-AFTRA is focused on ensuring our members always work in a safe environment,” it said. “Violence or physical abuse in the workplace is never appropriate and the union condemns any such conduct.

    “The incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable. We have been in contact with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and ABC about this incident and will work to ensure this behavior is appropriately addressed. SAG-AFTRA does not comment on any pending member disciplinary process.”

    Smith’s next movie to arrive is the Antoine Fuqua directed ‘Emancipation’, which chronicles the true story of Gordon, or “Whipped Peter,” a slave who escaped to the North and whose scarred back became a rallying cry for the abolitionist movement. Apple TV+ had been looking at it as a potential awards contender next year following its success with ‘CODA’, though it’s unknown what impact the incident will have on those plans.

    Rock, meanwhile, besides his shocked onstage reaction to the slap, has yet to make a statement about Sunday night.

    Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards.
    Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards. Photo via Twitter.

  • Hollywood Reacts to Will Smith/Chris Rock Oscar Incident

    Chris Rock at the Oscars
    Chris Rock presents the Oscar® for Documentary Feature during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Blaine Ohigashi / A.M.P.A.S.

    It was the slap heard around the world – or at least where the Oscars are broadcast. As comedian and presenter Chris Rock joked about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, her husband Will Smith marched on stage and slapped him.

    “Jada, I love you. ‘G.I. Jane 2’? Can’t wait to see it,” Rock said as part of a short monologue that had previously been drawing laughs in the room. Pinkett Smith, who has recently spoken about her experiences dealing with alopecia, rolled her eyes at the gag. Seeing his wife’s discomfort, Smith took to the stage, walked directly up to Rock, and struck him on the face. “Will Smith just smacked the [expletive] out of me,” Rock remarked as Smith returned to his seat. Once he was sat down again, Smith repeatedly shouted at Rock: “Leave my wife’s name out of your [expletive] mouth.”

    It was a chaotic, uncomfortable moment for an Oscar ceremony that had already been marked by unfortunate moments, including the puzzling decision to shift some categories to a pre-show period and one or two seemingly mismanaged performances, including one of ‘Encanto’s ‘We Don’t Take About Bruno’.

    Smith, a Best Actor nominee for ‘King Richard’ went on to win his category and used his speech to attempt to explain his actions

    “Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family. In this time in my life, in this moment I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world,” Smith said. “Making this film, I got to protect Aunjanue Ellis, who is one of the most strongest, most delicate people I’ve ever met.”

    “I got to protect Saniyya and Demi, the two actresses who played Venus and Serena. I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people. And to be a river to my people. And I know to do what we do, we gotta be able to take abuse, you gotta be able to take people talking crazy about you. You gotta smile and pretend like that’s ok.”

    Will Smith accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role
    Will Smith accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Blaine Ohigashi / A.M.P.A.S.

    “Denzel [Washington] said to me a few minutes ago: ‘At your highest moment, be careful – that’s when the devil comes for you.’ It’s like… I wanna be a vessel for love.”

    Smith also took a moment to offer apologies – though not to Rock: “I want to apologize to the Academy. I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees. This is a beautiful moment and I’m not crying for winning an award.

    “It’s not about winning an award for me. It’s about being able to shine a light on all of the people,” he said. Smith ended his speech by saying, “I hope the Academy invites me back.”

    The body itself tweeted about the incident roughly two hours after it happened. “The Academy does not condone violence of any form,” it read. “Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world.”

    And while the assault is considered a misdemeanor in California, Rock has so far declined to file a report. “LAPD investigative entities are aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards program,” the police said in a statement last night. “The incident involved one individual slapping another,” they added. “The individual involved has declined to file a police report. If the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report.”

    Reactions from the industry were mixed between shock and humor. Filmmaking Marshall Herskovitz was unimpressed, tweeting the following:

    The history of on-stage bad blood between Rock and the Smith family goes back a few years at least, especially to time Rock was hosting the 2016 incarnation of the event and made a joke about the couple boycotting the awards over the lack of acting nominations for people of color.

    “Jada [Pinkett Smith] boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties. I wasn’t invited,” Rock said during his opening monologue. Pinkett Smith later said she was “moving on” from the joke. But feelings clearly boiled over again last night.

    Either way, this is an Oscars no-one is likely to forget for a while. For a full roundup, read our story on the winners.

    Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards.
    Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards. Photo via Twitter.

  • 2022 Oscar Winners

    Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall
    (L to R) Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall host the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo credit: Blaine Ohigashi / A.M.P.A.S.

    Award season 2022 has officially come to an end with the conclusion of the 94th Academy Awards. The Oscars have been handed out, and we are going to breakdown all the winners and shocking moments of the night.

    It began with Tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams introducing a performance of the Oscar nominated song “Be Alive” from ‘King Richard,’ performed by Beyonce on the Compton tennis courts where the Williams sisters grew up.

    After the performance, hosts Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall took the stage to begin the show with a seemingly impromptu introduction by DJ Khaled. The three performers gave a short group monologue before Schumer gave a hilarious solo stand-up routine making fun of the stars in the audience.

    The telecast included anniversary celebrations for several movies such as ‘White Man Can’t Jump,’ with Woody Harrelson, Wesley Snipes and Rosie Perez presenting together for their films’ 30th anniversary, while Elliot Page, Jennifer Garner, and J.K. Simmons reunited for the 15th anniversary of ‘Juno’ to present Best Original Screenplay.

    Al Pacino, Francis Ford Coppola and Robert De Niro
    (L to R) Al Pacino, Francis Ford Coppola and Robert De Niro onstage during the 50th anniversary tribute of “The Godfather” at the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo credit: Blaine Ohigashi / A.M.P.A.S.

    The 60th anniversary of James Bond movies was celebrated, as was the 50th anniversary of ‘The Godfather,’ which saw director Francis Ford Coppola, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro together again on stage. And John Travolta, Uma Thurman, and Samuel L. Jackson reunited for the 28th anniversary of ‘Pulp Fiction,’ and of course, Travolta and Thurman danced.

    However, the most awkward moment of the night came when Chris Rock was introducing Best Documentary Feature. The comedian did a few minutes of stand up, roasting the crowd. But when he poked fun at actress Jada Pinkett Smith’s career, her husband Will Smith stormed the stage and punched Rock in the face!

    The Oscar nominated actor clearly wasn’t amused by the comedian’s joke, and about 30 seconds of an angry shouting match between the two performers was aired without audio. When the audio resumed, a startled Rock concluded by saying, “That was the greatest night in the history of television.’

    Will Smith at Oscars
    94th Oscars® nominee Will Smith at the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo credit: Blaine Ohigashi / A.M.P.A.S.

    As far as the actual awards go, the biggest surprise came with Kenneth Branagh winning Best Original Screenplay for ‘Belfast,’ beating frontrunner Paul Thomas Anderson for ‘Licorice Pizza.’ As well as Sian Heder who won Best Adapted Screenplay for ‘CODA’ beating out Jane Campion for ‘The Power of the Dog.’

    In the artisan categories, ‘Dune’ was the big winner taking home Best Film Editing, Production Design, Sound, and Cinematography.

    In the major award categories there were no real surprises at all. Ariana DeBose won Best Supporting Actress for her role in ‘West Side Story,’ and Troy Kotsur won Best Supporting Actor for his performance in ‘CODA.’ As predicted, Jane Campion won Best Director for her work on ‘The Power of the Dog.’

    Ariana DeBose accepts the Oscar
    Ariana DeBose accepts the Oscar® for Actress in a Supporting Role during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo credit: Blaine Ohigashi / A.M.P.A.S.

    After his confrontation with Rock, Will Smith won (as expected) the Best Actor Oscar for his performance in ‘King Richard.’ In his tearful speech, Smith talked about protecting his family and apologized to the Academy, likely for his interaction with Rock. He also joked that life imitates art, implying that his behavior earlier in the evening mirrors the character he just received an award for portraying.

    Best Actress, which was by far the most unpredictable race of the night, ended up going to Jessica Chastain for her performance in ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye,’ beating out fan-favorite Kristen Stewart for ‘Spencer.’

    The ceremony ended with Oscar winners Lady Gaga and Liza Minnelli presenting Best Picture to ‘CODA,’ which in a tight race pulled out the win over ‘The Power of the Dog.’

    CODA wins Best Picture
    Philippe Rousselet and Patrick Wachsberger accept the Oscar® for Best Picture for “CODA” during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo credit: Blaine Ohigashi / A.M.P.A.S.

    You can read a full list of the winners below:

    BEST PICTURE

    ‘Belfast’
    ‘CODA’ – Winner
    ‘Don’t Look Up’
    ‘Drive My Car’
    ‘Dune’
    ‘King Richard’
    ‘Licorice Pizza’
    ‘Nightmare Alley’
    ‘The Power of the Dog’
    ‘West Side Story’

    ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

    Jessie Buckley, ‘The Lost Daughter’
    Ariana DeBose, ‘West Side Story’ – Winner
    Judi Dench, ‘Belfast’
    Kirsten Dunst, ‘The Power of the Dog’
    Aunjanue Ellis, ‘King Richard’

    ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

    Ciaran Hinds, ‘Belfast’
    Troy Kotsur, ‘CODA’ – Winner
    Jesse Plemons, ‘The Power of the Dog’
    J.K. Simmons, ‘Being the Ricardos’
    Kodi Smit-McPhee, ‘The Power of the Dog’

    ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

    Javier Bardem, ‘Being the Ricardos’
    Benedict Cumberbatch, ‘The Power of the Dog’
    Andrew Garfield, ‘tick, Tick… Boom!’
    Will Smith, ‘King Richard’ – Winner
    Denzel Washington, ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’

    ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

    Jessica Chastain, ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ – Winner
    Olivia Colman, ‘The Lost Daughter’
    Penelope Cruz, ‘Parallel Mothers’
    Nicole Kidman, ‘Being the Ricardos’
    Kristen Stewart, ‘Spencer’

    BEST DIRECTOR

    Kenneth Branagh, ‘Belfast’
    Ryusuke Hamaguchi, ‘Drive My Car’
    Paul Thomas Anderson, ‘Licorice Pizza’
    Jane Campion, ‘The Power of the Dog’ – Winner
    Steven Spielberg, ‘West Side Story’

    ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

    ‘CODA’ – Winner
    ‘Drive My Car’
    ‘Dune’
    ‘The Lost Daughter’
    ‘The Power of the Dog’

    ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

    ‘Belfast’ – Winner
    ‘Don’t Look Up’
    ‘King Richard’
    ‘Licorice Pizza’
    ‘The Worst Person in the World’

    INTERNATIONAL FEATURE FILM

    ‘Drive My Car’ – Winner
    ‘Flee’
    ‘The Hand of God’
    ‘Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom’
    ‘The Worst Person in the World’

    DOCUMENTARY (SHORT)

    ‘Audible’
    ‘Lead Me Home’
    ‘The Queen of Basketball’ – Winner
    ‘Three Songs for Benazir’
    ‘When We Were Bullies’

    DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

    ‘Ascension’
    ‘Attica’
    ‘Flee’
    ‘Summer of Soul’ – Winner
    ‘Writing with Fire’

    ORIGINAL SONG

    ‘King Richard’
    ‘Encanto’
    ‘Belfast’
    ‘No Time to Die’ – Winner
    ‘Four Good Days’

    ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

    ‘Encanto’ – Winner
    ‘Flee’
    ‘Luca’
    ‘The Mitchells vs. The Machine’
    ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’

    PRODUCTION DESIGN

    ‘Dune’ – Winner
    ‘Nightmare Alley’
    ‘The Power of the Dog’
    ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’
    ‘West Side Story’

    CINEMATOGRAPHY

    ‘Dune’ – Winner
    ‘Nightmare Alley’
    ‘The Power of the Dog’
    ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’
    ‘West Side Story’

    COSTUME DESIGN

    ‘Cruella’ – Winner
    ‘Cyrano’
    ‘Dune’
    ‘Nightmare Alley’
    ‘Westside Story’

    ACHIEVEMENT IN SOUND

    ‘Belfast’
    ‘Dune’ – Winner
    ‘No Time to Die’
    ‘The Power of the Dog’
    ‘Westside Story’

    ANIMATED SHORT FILM

    ‘Affairs of the Art’
    ‘Bestia’
    ‘Boxballet’
    ‘Robin Robin’
    ‘The Windshield Wiper’ – Winner

    LIVE ACTION SHORT FILM

    ‘Ala Kachuu — Take and Run’
    ‘The Dress’
    ‘The Long Goodbye’ – Winner
    ‘On My Mind’
    ‘Please Hold’

    ORIGINAL SCORE

    ‘Don’t Look Up’
    ‘Dune’ – Winner
    ‘Encanto’
    ‘Parallel Mothers’
    ‘The Power of the Dog’

    VISUAL EFFECTS

    ‘Dune’ – Winner
    ‘Free Guy’
    ‘No Time to Die’
    ‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings’
    ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’

    FILM EDITING

    ‘Don’t Look Up’
    ‘Dune’ – Winner
    ‘King Richard’
    ‘The Power of the Dog’
    ‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’

    MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING

    ‘Coming 2 America’
    ‘Cruella’
    ‘Dune’
    ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’ – Winner
    ‘House of Gucci’

    Oscars Stage
    The 94th Oscars®. Photo credit: Blaine Ohigashi / A.M.P.A.S.

  • Oscar Nomination Predictions

    Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
    Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

    Oscar nominations are scheduled to be announced on February 8th by Tracee Ellis Ross and Leslie Jordan. With the cancellation of the Golden Globes, and the Critic’s Choice Awards and other ceremonies postponed because of Covid concerns, this year’s awards season is unusually wide open with no true frontrunner in the pack.

    Yes, it does seem that director Jane Campion’s ‘The Power of the Dog’ is set to receive several major nominations, but Kenneth Branagh’s ‘Belfast’ is fast on its heels, and don’t count out Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Dune’ just yet. In the acting categories, most are still open for some real surprises, with the exception of Will Smith and Kodi Smit-McPhee for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively, who both seem to be locks.

    Below are our predictions for the titles and names that will be announced when the nominations are released on February 8th. We are only breaking down our predictions and possible surprises for the six major categories, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress.

    Let’s Begin!

    (L to R) Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Judi Dench, Jude Hill, and Lewis McAskie in 'Belfast,' directed by Kenneth Branagh
    (L to R) Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Judi Dench, Jude Hill, and Lewis McAskie in ‘Belfast,’ directed by Kenneth Branagh

    BEST PICTURE

    As previously mentioned, ‘The Power of the Dog’ and ‘Belfast’ are both definitely a lock for Best Picture nominations. In theory, ‘Dune,’ and ‘Licorice Pizza’ are probably locks too, having racked up enough critic’s groups noms to assure their Oscar nominations. ‘CODA’ and ‘West Side Story’ are also in a pretty safe place, but anything could happen. After that, it’s pretty wide open.

    In past years, the Academy has had the option to nominate between five and ten films. This year, they will definitely nominate ten movies, so that leaves four spots fairly free. ‘Don’t Look Up’ has had a great run on Netflix and has gained a lot of last-minute love, and I think will likely be nominated. The same can be said for the streamer’s ‘Tick, Tick … Boom!,’ and Will Smith’s commanding performance in ‘King Richard’ should be enough to get the film nominated as well.

    Leaving just one spot left, I’m going with ‘Being the Ricardos’ over ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth.’ It could go either way, but the Lucille Ball biopic has gained some steam in the last few weeks after premiering on Prime Video and with both Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem receiving surprise SAG nominations, it seems more likely. ‘Drive My Car,’ which seems a lock to win Best Foreign Film could sneak into the top ten, but unfortunately, the best reviewed movie of the year, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home,’ seems very unlikely to even be nominated.

    Predictions:

    • ‘The Power of the Dog’
    • ‘Belfast’
    • ‘Dune’
    • ‘West Side Story’
    • ‘Licorice Pizza’
    • ‘CODA’
    • ‘King Richard’
    • ‘Don’t Look Up’
    • ‘Tick, Tick … Boom!’
    • ‘Being the Ricardos’

    Other Possibilities:

    • ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’
    • ‘Drive My Car’
    • ‘The Lost Daughter’
    • ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’
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    Director Paul Thomas Anderson on the set of 'Licorice Pizza'
    Director Paul Thomas Anderson on the set of ‘Licorice Pizza’

    BEST DIRECTOR

    With Jane Campion (The Power of the Dog’), Kenneth Branagh (‘Belfast’) and Denis Villeneuve (‘Dune’) as virtual locks for nominations, that only leaves two open spots. While Paul Thomas Anderson will certainly win his first Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for ‘Licorice Pizza,’ I still assume that he will receive a nomination for Best Director as well.

    But who will take that fifth spot? Safe money is probably on Steven Spielberg for ‘West Side Story.’ While I don’t think he deserves to be nominated for the beat-for-beat remake, he is the most beloved filmmaker in modern history, and the Academy might just give him the nod. If Spielberg doesn’t make the cut, it will be because of Ryusuke Hamaguchi for ‘Drive My Car,’ which would follow a trend in recent years where the Academy nominates a foreign film for Best Director.

    But, as I mentioned earlier there is a lot of love out there for ‘Don’t Look Up,’ so an Adam McKay nomination is possible, but may be a longshot. Another possibility but still a longshot is Sian Heder receiving her fist nomination for her work on ‘CODA.’

    Predictions:

    • Jane Campion – ‘The Power of the Dog’
    • Denis Villeneuve – ‘Dune’
    • Kenneth Branagh – ‘Belfast’
    • Paul Thomas Anderson – ‘Licorice Pizza’
    • Steven Spielberg – ‘West Side Story’

    Other Possibilities:

    • Ryusuke Hamaguchi – ‘Drive My Car’
    • Adam McKay – ‘Don’t Look Up’
    • Joel Coen – ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’
    • Sian Heder – ‘CODA’
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    (L to R) Demi Singleton as Serena Williams, Saniyya Sidney as Venus Williams and Will Smith as Richard Williams in 'King Richard'
    (L to R) Demi Singleton as Serena Williams, Saniyya Sidney as Venus Williams and Will Smith as Richard Williams in ‘King Richard’

    BEST ACTOR

    Of all the acting categories, this one may be the most preordained. Unless something goes terribly wrong, Will Smith is poised to not only be nominated but also win his first Academy Award for his work in ‘King Richard.’

    Benedict Cumberbatch is likely to enjoy the ‘Power of the Dog’ love and receive a nomination, while Andrew Garfield will be nominated as well for ‘Tick, Tick…Boom!,’ earning his nom as much for his return as Spider-Man in ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ as he’s being rewarded for the Lin-Manuel Miranda movie. With his recent SAG Award nomination, and the buzz the film is getting, Javier Bardem will also be nominated for playing Desi Arnez in ‘Being the Ricardos.’

    That leaves one nomination open, which will most likely go to Denzel Washington for ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth.’ A month ago, it seemed that Peter Dinklage would be nominated for ‘Cyrano,’ but with the film’s release pushed because of Covid, its awards season chances are cooling off. However, Nicolas Cage has earned some surprise nominations this year for ‘Pig,’ as has Simon Rex for ‘Red Rocket,’ so either actor could hypothetically sneak into the Oscar race.

    Predictions:

    • Will Smith – ‘King Richard’
    • Benedict Cumberbatch – ‘The Power of the Dog’
    • Andrew Garfield – ‘Tick, Tick…Boom!’
    • Javier Bardem – ‘Being the Ricardos’
    • Denzel Washington – ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’

    Other Possibilities:

    • Peter Dinklage – ‘Cyrano’
    • Leonardo DiCaprio – ‘Don’t Look Up’
    • Nicolas Cage – ‘Pig’
    • Simon Rex – ‘Red Rocket’
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    Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem in 'Being the Ricardos'
    Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem in ‘Being the Ricardos’

    BEST ACTRESS

    This might be the most interesting category this year. Assumed frontrunner Kristen Stewart is in some trouble, as she failed to receive a SAG or BAFTA nomination for her work in ‘Spencer.’ She could possibly get snubbed by the Academy, but I think she will still get the nom, however, her chances of winning are way down.

    Nicole Kidman, Olivia Colman, and Jessica Chastain all received SAG noms, but no BAFTA nominations, making Lady Gaga the only true lock at this point for her work in ‘House of Gucci.’ My guess is that all five actresses will ultimately be nominated for Oscars, but don’t count out a surprise nom from the likes of Penelope Cruz for ‘Parallel Mothers’ or Alana Haim for ‘Licorice Pizza.’

    Predictions:

    • Nicole Kidman – ‘Being the Ricardos’
    • Lady Gaga – ‘House of Gucci’
    • Olivia Colman – ‘The Lost Daughter’
    • Jessica Chastain – ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’
    • Kristen Stewart – ‘Spencer’

    Other Possibilities:

    • Alana Haim – ‘Licorice Pizza’
    • Penelope Cruz – ‘Parallel Mothers’
    • Rachel Zegler – ‘West Side Story’
    • Emilia Jones – ‘CODA’
    • Jennifer Hudson – ‘Respect’
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    (L to R) Ben Affleck and Tye Sheridan star in 'Tender Bar' Photo: CLAIRE FOLGER © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC
    (L to R) Ben Affleck and Tye Sheridan star in ‘Tender Bar’ Photo: Claire Folger © Amazon Content Services LLC

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

    By all accounts, Kodi Smit-McPhee is a lock for a nomination and will likely ultimately win, but he has some strong competition from two veteran actors and former Oscar nominees. First, while he’ll probably get snubbed for his stellar work in ‘Nightmare Alley,’ Bradley Cooper will be nominated for his comedic performance as producer Jon Peters in ‘Licorice Pizza.’ It will mark his fifth nomination for acting, but like Smit-McPhee, to finally take home the award, Cooper will have to beat a late entry in the awards season race, Ben Affleck.

    ‘The Tender Bar’ opened late in December, but it seems a lot of voters are watching it on Prime Video as Affleck was suddenly thrown in the race after receiving a Golden Globe nomination. I actually think Affleck could end up being Smit-McPhee’s biggest competition as there is a lot of “good will” out there for his performance and overall career. After winning Best Picture for ‘Argo’ and being wrongfully snubbed for Best Director, there may be a sense that it is “his time,” a sentiment that could also help Cooper.

    I also think that Troy Kotsur will receive a nomination for his work in ‘CODA,’ leaving just one more space on the ballot. While it’s likely that a spot could go to either Cirian Hinds or Jamie Dornan for ‘Belfast,’ I actually think the two actors will cancel each other out. As much as I would love to see J.K. Simmons nominated for ‘Being the Ricardos,’ it doesn’t seem likely and after his recent BAFTA nom, you can’t count out Mike Faist from ‘West Side Story.’ But my money is on Oscar winner Jared Leto’s bizarre performance in ‘House of Gucci’ to round out the category.

    Predictions:

    • Kodi Smit-McPhee – ‘The Power of the Dog’
    • Bradley Cooper – ‘Licorice Pizza’
    • Ben Affleck – ‘The Tender Bar’
    • Troy Kotsur – ‘CODA’
    • Jared Leto – ‘House of Gucci’

    Other Possibilities:

    • Ciaran Hinds – ‘Belfast’
    • Jamie Dornan – ‘Belfast’
    • Mike Faist – ‘West Side Story’
    • J.K. Simmons – ‘Being the Ricardos’
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    Ariana DeBose in ‘West Side Story’
    Ariana DeBose in ‘West Side Story’

    BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

    While Kirsten Dunst is still the assumed frontrunner for Best Supporting Actress, buzz for her performance has died down since the new year. While I still think she’ll score a nomination, she will have some stiff competition from her fellow nominees.

    Ariana DeBose and Aunjanue Ellis will both be nominated for their work in ‘West Side Story’ and ‘King Richard,’ respectively, and are probably Dunst’s biggest competition. But don’t forget actress Caitriona Balfe’s beautiful performance in ‘Belfast,’ which I definitely think will be nominated.

    That just leaves one open spot, which I think will go to Oscar winner Marlee Matlin for ‘CODA.’ However, if ‘CODA’ does not score well overall on Tuesday, then Ruth Negga will be nominated for ‘Passing.’ While it’s more of a longshot, after her recent BAFTA nom, character actress Ann Dowd could receive a surprise nomination for her work in ‘Mass.’

    Predictions:

    • Kirsten Dunst – ‘The Power of the Dog’
    • Ariana DeBose – ‘West Side Story’
    • Aunjanue Ellis – ‘King Richard’
    • Caitriona Balfe – ‘Belfast’
    • Marlee Matlin – ‘CODA’

    Other Possibilities:

    • Ruth Negga – ‘Passing’
    • Rita Moreno – ‘West Side Story’
    • Ann Dowd – ‘Mass’
    • Judi Dench – ‘Belfast’
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    Don’t forget to check back with Moviefone for a list of all the nominees when the Academy Award nominations are announced on Tuesday, February 8th.

    Oscars Logo Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
    Oscars Logo Courtesy of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences