94th Annual Academy Awards Thread

[overedge]

Apparently venue bouncer #1 rule is: ask them to leave, and if they refuse, take them out yourself.

I was wondering whether the layout of the theatre had anything to do with the Academy's decisions during the show. I really disliked the layout with the exclusive club tables at the front and everyone who wasn't super famous made to sit in regular rows of seats It might have been hard to get Smith out of there without knocking over a lot of tables and chairs.

 

[Parsley Sage]

There are commercial breaks during the Oscars. It's when the attendees go to the bathroom/bar/smoking area. It's also when they go backstage to perform/present or come back from performing/presenting/winning.

Smith was the favourite to win but only the accountants would know if he had won not.

 

[MacMadame]

Wanda Sykes spoke about the incident - she thinks Will should have been escorted out. She also said that at an after party Chris Rock apologized to her about the incident.

I'm still waiting for him to apologize to Jada Pinket Smith who I think is the only actual victim here (of the 3 of them).

 

[skatfan]

I'm still waiting for him to apologize to Jada Pinket Smith who I think is the only actual victim here (of the 3 of them).

How do you know that he didn’t? He may have done so privately.

 

[MacMadame]

How do you know that he didn’t? He may have done so privately.

Anything is possible but given that he's playing the victim, I am extremely doubtful.

 

[Foolhardy Ham Lint]

Apparently venue bouncer #1 rule is: ask them to leave, and if they refuse, take them out yourself.

I was wondering whether the layout of the theatre had anything to do with the Academy's decisions during the show. I really disliked the layout with the exclusive club tables at the front and everyone who wasn't super famous made to sit in regular rows of seats It might have been hard to get Smith out of there without knocking over a lot of tables and chairs.

For some reason, the thought of seeing seeing Smith dragged out on live television, makes me think of this classic bit from the movie, What's Up Doc?

https://youtu.be/PoIuiCAepLU?t=59

 

[manhn]

I think they should have not announced the Best Actor winner until they investigate this further.

 

[skatfan]

Anything is possible but given that he's playing the victim, I am extremely doubtful.

I do see him as the victim and I’m pretty sure I’m not alone in that. Only one person could file charges - and it’s not Jada Pinkett-Smith.

 

[MacMadame]

I think they should have not announced the Best Actor winner until they investigate this further.

What if someone else had won it though? Then it would be like the poor skaters who never got their Team Medals.

 

[skatingguy]

Anything is possible but given that he's playing the victim, I am extremely doubtful.

What gives you the idea that Chris Rock is playing the victim? His only public appearance since the show was last evening, and the only mention of what happened at the Oscars was he asked the audience how their weekends were, and mentioned that he was still processing the what happened.

 

[MacMadame]

What gives you the idea that Chris Rock is playing the victim? His only public appearance since the show was last evening, and the only mention of what happened at the Oscars was he asked the audience how their weekends were, and mentioned that he was still processing the what happened.

What he said to Wanda Sykes.

He made fun of someone with an embarrassing medical condition and I think that'd dispicable.

 

[skatingguy]

What he said to Wanda Sykes.

He made fun of someone with an embarrassing medical condition and I think that'd dispicable.

The apology? That was done privately and Wanda Sykes made it public, so I don't see how that's Chris Rock making it about himself.

 

[screech]

I think they should have not announced the Best Actor winner until they investigate this further.

While I think Will's actions were horrible and that he deserves repercussions, I don't think he should have been denied the award. His win was completely separate from his actions, and was decided before this happened. I do think he should not have been allowed to stay to ACCEPT the award, but that the voters determined his award was earned based on his performance.

A lot of people are making this a race issue. Saying if they give repercussions or take away his award, it's because he's black. Or that Chris' joke was an insult to black women. Is Will black? Yes. Is his skin colour related to what happened and what will happen in the future? No. Is Jada black? Yes. Was Chris' joke made to her because of the colour of her skin and the stigma around black women's' hair? I don't think that was his intention.

There are a lot of people online saying he should not lose his award, but giving the reason that Weinstein, Allen, and Polanski still have theirs. I don't think they are even considering taking his Oscar away, but also, Will's situation is completely different. The Academy 'Code of Conduct' came into play AFTER those other people won their awards, and their horrific actions did not take place AT the ceremony. Polanski and Weinstein have also had their membership in the Academy revoked (apparently Allen was never actually a member).

Only one Oscar has ever been stripped, and that was for "Young Americans" which was awarded 1968's best documentary at the 1969 Awards. It was later declared ineligible because the film had actually been released in 1967, and the award was later given to the runner-up film.

ETA I just saw that there's a video on TikTok from behind that shows Jada's reactions after Will hits Chris. She laughs after Chris comments on Will hitting him, and appears to laugh again (though seems a bit more awkward) when Chris jokes 'greatest night in the history of television.' No other visible reactions.

 

[Cachoo]

I’ve been hearing about a race issue also but in a different way. Shannon Sharpe is a former NFL star and sports analyst who’s response had gone viral: https://youtu.be/SdVB5XDW27I

 

[antmanb]

ETA I just saw that there's a video on TikTok from behind that shows Jada's reactions after Will hits Chris. She laughs after Chris comments on Will hitting him, and appears to laugh again (though seems a bit more awkward) when Chris jokes 'greatest night in the history of television.' No other visible reactions.

I don't know if it's me but whenever people link to something from Tiktok i never seem to get what they say i should - the first video that comes up is of some guys bell ringing.

 

[screech]

I don't know if it's me but whenever people link to something from Tiktok i never seem to get what they say i should - the first video that comes up is of some guys bell ringing.

I don't TikTok so I had no idea. Here's a link to an article that includes the video. I've also updated in my original post.

 

[Lacey]

Will Smith should be allowed to keep his Oscar, it’s a different subject than his slap of Chris Rock.

However, I don’t think Will should be permitted to present Best Actor Award next year, as is traditional, and perhaps he should also lose his membership.

 

[BaileyCatts]

What he said to Wanda Sykes.

He made fun of someone with an embarrassing medical condition and I think that'd dispicable.

But did he actually know she had a medical condition? Just because she may have been public about it (as I have learned she has been due to the fall out from this), that doesn't mean he knew. I had no idea Jada had that condition until after this happened and it was in the press. I've seen her at award shows and in magazines and on the entertainment shows and her hair has been very short or close cropped for a while now. I just thought that was the way she wore her hair. Some people like to have super short/cropped hair. I never thought twice about why her hair was like that and had no clue it was due to a medical condition. Why would Chris Rock know she did?

 

[Lacey]

So I read that this may go back to wanting to protect his mother from her abusive husband, Will’s father?, but has he ever done anything like this before? His mother was on Philly news saying something along the lines of my precious baby has never done anything like this…as if that excused it.

Even if Chris Rock does not want to pursue this, I think LAPD should so Will might not do it again or so others know physical violence is serious stuff

 

[once_upon]

Chris Rock and other comedians make a shitload of money and fame from demeaning, being cruel to others.

Will Smith decided that violent actions are defending one's family.

Lady GaGa could have gone the demeaning route (something like oh come on Liza get your act together) or gone a little violent (by pushing the wheelchair too hard).

Instead she went with compassion, encouragement and support.

 

[screech]

The Academy has provided Will with the mandated minimum 15 days notice of action being taken, and apparently decisions may will be made at the next meeting on April 18.
Also, apparently even though Chris has declined to file a police report, the Academy can press charges if they choose.

 

[VGThuy]

What bothers me the most is that I bet Will thought he would get away with it. He sort of made a self-deprecating remark about whether the Academy will let him back, but from someone who was more humble and aware of how bad his actions were, then I'd believe it was truly self-deprecating. However, from him, and all the support he was receiving in the room and the fact that he built up his whole career of being the lovable, fan favorite Fresh Prince of Bel-Air who was beyond reproach, I bet he didn't truly believe he'd be facing these sorts of repercussions from his act nor the response he received despite all of his stans on social media going after and attacking anyone and everyone who dared criticize Will Smith's actions on Oscar night. His whole acceptance speech (with that standing ovation...I made note of the people I noticed who didn't stand up for him) was him doubling down on his actions and justifying it with while crying his eyes out.

I think it's clear he needs more therapy and to really dig deep into many issues he has bottling up inside.

 

[vgerdes]

While I think Will's actions were horrible and that he deserves repercussions, I don't think he should have been denied the award. His win was completely separate from his actions, and was decided before this happened. I do think he should not have been allowed to stay to ACCEPT the award, but that the voters determined his award was earned based on his performance.

I've gone back and forth on my feelings about this a couple of times. I don't think he should be stripped of the Oscar. I DO think he shouldn't have been allowed to accept it during the broadcast, or to make a speech. He should have been escorted out after the incident happened, and had the statue delivered to him later. That would have been the appropriate response.

 

[VGThuy]

Btw, TMZ reported that sources at the ceremony say the Academy lied about asking Smith to leave the ceremony, so at least Will didn't say "no" since he was never asked to leave.

 

[skatfan]

But did he actually know she had a medical condition? Just because she may have been public about it (as I have learned she has been due to the fall out from this), that doesn't mean he knew. I had no idea Jada had that condition until after this happened and it was in the press. I've seen her at award shows and in magazines and on the entertainment shows and her hair has been very short or close cropped for a while now. I just thought that was the way she wore her hair. Some people like to have super short/cropped hair. I never thought twice about why her hair was like that and had no clue it was due to a medical condition. Why would Chris Rock know she did?

It’s really unclear that Rock knew anything about a medical condition. Also, Will Smith initially laughed at the GI Jane joke, it was only seeing his wife’s reaction that caused him to get violent.

 

[Lacey]

But the camera was on jada and her reaction was that she rolled her eyes, nothing over the top, kind of like here we go, another jokester, more from Chris

 

[DreamSkates]

Anything is possible but given that he's playing the victim, I am extremely doubtful.

He made the comment in public so an apology should come the same way.

 

[screech]

Btw, TMZ reported that sources at the ceremony say the Academy lied about asking Smith to leave the ceremony, so at least Will didn't say "no" since he was never asked to leave.

IIRC isn't the Academy statement saying that they spoke to his reps to ask them to have him leave and they declined - they did not claim to speak to Will directly? I still doubt that this happened, but I mean come ON Academy. And it contradicts their original statement of trying to decide what to do and it taking too long to come to agreement (or something like that)

 

[DreamSkates]

Congrats to Dune for winning some well-deserved awards!

 

[VGThuy]