Will Smith's Oscars ban is divisive: 'This is 100 per cent racially motivated'

Some think the punishment fit the act, while others believe it was too harsh

In an unexpected moment at the 2022 Academy Awards, actor Will Smith slaps comedian Chris Rock. AFP

Smith confronts Rock onstage at the Oscars after the comedian made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. AFP

Rock likened Jada Pinkett Smith's hair to a GI Jane haircut, which prompted her husband to take to the stage to confront Rock in a seemingly unscripted moment. Reuters

Smith leaves the stage at the Oscars after slapping Rock for a remark he made about his wife Jada. She lost her hair because of alopecia. AP

Smith and Jada arrive at the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California. AFP

Smith wins Best Actor in a Leading Role for his performance in King Richard, at the 2022 Oscars. AFP

Smith, in tears, pays tribute to his wife Jada during his acceptance speech. AFP

Smith with wife Jada after he won the Oscar award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. AFP

Serena Williams at the Oscar Awards on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. AP

Serena and sister Venus Williams introduce a performance by Beyonce at the Oscars. AP

US tennis star Venus attends the 94th Oscars. AFP

Will Smith was always going to be able to keep his Oscar. Or at least that's what Whoopi Goldberg predicted not so long ago on the talk show The View.

“He’ll be fine, he’ll be back. No worries,” she's said.

When people such as Harvey Weinstein and Roman Polanski have kept hold of their Oscars, Goldberg has a point. It was perhaps never in question that Smith would lose his.

Smith got the coveted gong for Best Actor, for his role in King Richard, about 30 minutes after he slapped comedian Chris Rock live on stage during the 94th Academy Awards.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences faced backlash as it failed to act during the live telecast, allowing Smith to simply saunter back to his seat and then even pick up his prize, make a speech and frivolously attend after-parties unscathed.

On Friday, however, Smith, who has since apologised for his actions and resigned from the academy, was banned from attending the Oscars for 10 years.

'Harsher than I imagined'

Some people think this punishment fits the crime, while others believe it was going overboard.

“He’s not going to be able to present next year, and I think hurray for that," academy member Carol Connors told The Hollywood Reporter. "I don’t think he should be allowed on the academy stage. What he did on the world stage was unacceptable."

Fellow academy member Stephen Potter, however, said: “I have to say I’m surprised at the academy’s formal response of a 10-year ban on Mr Smith, which is harsher than I imagined it would be. Ten years is quite a long time and it’s possible this incident will mostly be forgotten before this term concludes."

On the other hand, some believe it didn't go far enough, particularly as Smith can still be nominated for Oscars going forward.

"So to be clear, Will Smith can still be nominated and win an Oscar, he just can't go to the show or Oscar-related events. Makes sense," wrote reporter Joe Flint on Twitter.

Racially motivated?

Some critics believe the move was racially motivated, citing inappropriate behaviour by white peers that have gone unpunished. This includes Oscar winner Adrien Brody who kissed presenter Halle Berry in 2003 and Jim Carrey, who has publicly denounced Smith's behaviour but who also made advances on a resistant Alicia Silverstone at the 1997 MTV Movie Awards.

“The ten-year ban they gave Will Smith feels very ‘make a lesson of this black person,’” tweeted author Frederick Joseph.

"How long are Harvey Weinstein and Mel Gibson banned for?" he wrote in another tweet, while Twitter user Somari agreed, saying "this is 100% racially motivated".

"They were ok with Harvey Weinstein for how long?" wrote someone on Reddit. “What they mean is that they don’t like PUBLIC assaults.”

“Crazy how the Oscars have allowed racism and harassment to happen with no consequences, but they choose to ban Will for TEN YEARS all over a slap?" wrote another user.

Even controversial British media figure Piers Morgan agrees. "Will Smith banned by the Hollywood Academy, 12 days after he slapped Chris Rock," he wrote on Twitter after the announcement. "It took the same academy 40 years to ban Roman Polanski after he was convicted of raping a child."

'The academy dropped the ball'

Others joked how, with Oscars viewership and interest in steep decline, it's not much of a punishment anyway.

“A harsher punishment would have been mandatory attendance for 10 years,” wrote Scandal star Joshua Malina.

For many, the new sentence can't make up for the fact no one took action during the event.

“The academy dropped the ball by not taking action when it happened," academy member Larry Gleason told The Hollywood Reporter. "This after-the-fact punishment is like the old saying, 'Closing the barn door…' Too late and too little. After the La La Land fiasco, you would have thought they would have handled it better. Sad event for all concerned.”

Best-dressed men at the Oscars 2022 — in pictures:

Actor Will Smith attends the 94th Annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, in suit and tie. AFP

Riz Ahmed, wearing an oversized burgundy suit. EPA

'Dune' actor Timothee Chalamet wearing Louis Vuitton but no shirt on Oscars night. Getty

Actor Rami Malek brings Prada to the red carpet. AFP

Australian actor Kodi Smit-McPhee turns convention on its head with baby-blue Bottega Veneta. AFP

Actor Jason Momoa wears a black tuxedo and shirt to the Academy Awards. EPA

Daniel Kaluuya, star of The Judas and The Black Messiah, brings contrasts in teal satin Gucci. EPA

Actor Bill Murray in a Dior suit and a beret. AP

Andrew Garfield, a 2017 Academy Award nominee, wears claret velvet Saint Laurent. EPA

Actor and producer David Oyelowo wears a bold yellow-and-black floral suit. AFP

Bradley Cooper, accompanied by his mother Gloria Campano, wears a Gucci tuxedo. Reuters

'Dune' actor Josh Brolin wears a black tuxedo. Getty

American television host Karamo Brown wears Brunello Cucinelli. AFP

Oscar-nominated writer and director Pawo Choyning Dorji wears traditional Bhutanese dress. AFP

Actor Wesley Snipes goes head-to-toe burgundy. Reuters

Actor and director Tyler Perry wears a white tie and a Ukraine ribbon. EPA

'Belfast' actor Jamie Dornan on the red carpet in Valentino. EPA

Actor Jake Gyllenhaal wears a bow tie-less navy tuxedo. AFP

Canadian actor and Marvel movie star Simu Liu wears a red tuxedo. Getty

Elliot Page, a 2008 Academy Awards nominee, wears Gucci. AFP

Oscar winner Sir Kenneth Branagh wears a navy three-piece suit. EPA

Actor Ciaran Hinds wears navy Brunello Cucinelli. AFP

Actor Jay Ellis wears a white tuxedo. AFP

Musician and TV star Travis Barker wears black Maison Margiela. AFP

'Dune' director Denis Villeneuve wears a white tuxedo jacket. AFP

'Belfast' star Jude Hill wears a Thom Browne tuxedo. Reuters

Colombian singer Sebastian Yatra wears a pink tuxedo. AFP

Australian actor Jacob Elordi in a classic black tux. AFP

Canadian singer Shawn Mendes wears a classic black tuxedo. AFP

Spanish actor Javier Bardem on the red carpet. Getty

Actor Woody Harrelson goes head-to-toe black. AFP

Olympian and pro snowboarder Shaun White wears a classic black tuxedo. AFP