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.