Academy's Whoopi Goldberg Says Will Smith Will Keep Oscar

Academy Governor Whoopi Goldberg has said Will Smith won't lose his award despite the onstage altercation between him and Chris Rock.

At the 94th Academy Awards, Smith took to the stage not only to accept his award for Best Actor, but to slap Rock after he made a 'GI Jane 2' joke about wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

While the actor has since publicly apologised to Rock and the Academy for his behaviour, speculation has been growing over whether the incident could see Smith lose his Oscar.

Now, Sister Act star and governor for the Academy Goldberg has reflected on the possibility.

While a formal review has been officially been launched into the incident that 'will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law,' on Monday on The View Goldberg stated that the Academy is 'not going to take that Oscar from him'.

She reflected on the altercation: "I think it was a lot of stuff probably built up.

"I think he overreacted… I think he had one of those moments where it was like [God damn] it, just stop. I get it, not everybody acts the way we would like them to act under pressure. And he snapped...

"Sometimes you get to a point when you behave badly. I myself have behaved badly on occasion."

Goldberg resolved that while she's 'sure [...] there will be consequences', she doesn't think Smith will be stripped of his Best Actor award.

"Particularly because Chris said 'Listen, I'm not pressing any charges'," she explained.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that Rock has not filed a police report.

It stated: "LAPD investigative entities are aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards program. The incident involved one individual slapping another. The individual involved has declined to file a police report."

After not only striking Rock, but hurling verbal abuse at him once seated back in the audience, Smith went back up on stage some time later to receive his award.

During his acceptance speech Smith tearfully reflected on advice given to him by Denzel Washington, apologising to the Academy and his 'fellow nominees' for slapping Rock.

According to Sean Combs, formerly known as Puff Daddy, Rock and Smith have since made amends and the issue is 'over', with the rapper calling the duo 'brothers'.

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Topics: Film and TV, Oscars, Whoopi Goldberg, Will Smith, Celebrity, Entertainment

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.