Motion Picture Academy Starting Formal Review of Will Smith & Chris Rock Oscar Slap

Following last night’s Oscar ceremony where Will Smith slapped Chris Rock for making a bald joke about his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith, the Academy Of Motion Pictures has launched a formal review of the incident. As previously reported, Smith walked on stage and slapped Rock after he joked that Pinkett-Smith was going to be in “G.I. Jame 2,” a reference to the actress being bald. Pinkett-Smith suffers from alopecia and has talked about how she emotionally struggles with the condition, and did not seem happy at the joke after Rock made it. Smith returned to his seat and yelled at Rock to “leave my wife’s name out of your f**king mouth!”

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, who issued a statement after the incident stating they don’t “condone violence of any form,” has announced (per Variety that they are looking into the matter. The statement reads:

“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.”

Smith won Best Actor later in the evening and apologized in his acceptance speech to the Academy and his fellow nominees, though he did not mention Rock. Deadline reports that according to their sources there is “no chance” that Smith will have his Oscar revoked, though he could have his membership revoked or be suspended from AMPAS and its events, which could include next year’s Oscars.