Kylie Lang: Will Smith should be stripped of Oscar for slapping Chris Rock

Will Smith’s act of violence at the Oscars where he slapped Chris Rock across the face should not go unpunished, writes Kylie Lang. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Will Smith was right to stand up for his wife after she became a cheap shot for Chris Rock at yesterday’s Oscars but slapping the comedian across the face in a stunning display of unchecked violence was as wrong as you can get.

Why the hot-headed Smith wasn’t immediately removed by security from the glittering industry gala is beyond me.

Perhaps organisers feared it would derail the run sheet as Smith was about to receive an Oscar for his role in King Richard.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith after Smith won best actor for King Richard. Picture: Robyn Beck

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences says it has “officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences” in accordance with its conduct code and Californian law.

Sources say Oscars’ bosses are holding “full crisis mode” talks about what to do.

It’s simple. Strip the actor of the coveted award.

Violence such as this, broadcast on global live TV, should never be excused.

Smith could have, and should have, handled himself differently.

Few would disagree that Rock’s joke referencing Jada Pinkett Smith’s battle with alopecia was in poor taste but Smith is the one who’s come off looking like a bad egg.

Storming onto the stage to deliver the shocking blow, he walked back to his seat shouting “keep my wife’s name out of your f – king mouth” and was then consoled by Bradley Cooper, Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry.

Rock, meanwhile, composed himself and carried on like a professional, without anyone rushing to his side.

Is Will Smith such a Hollywood “god” that he is untouchable?

Following the shock assault, for which Rock has so far declined to press charges, Smith has tried to make light of the incident.

Shortly after the ceremony, Philadelphia-raised Smith posted to Instagram “you can’t invite people from Philly or Baltimore nowhere!”.

At the after-party he was all smiles, holding his Oscar statue high as he and Pinkett Smith danced and sang to his 90s’ hits Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It and Miami.

Like nothing had happened.

Today, Smith has issued an apology by posting on Instagram that his behaviour was “unacceptable and inexcusable”, but that took him 24 hours and only came after he became aware the academy was considering serious consequences for the outburst.

Will Smith is the one who deserves an uppercut, figuratively speaking of course, and the obvious way to do that is to strip him of his Oscar.