What the Academy should do to Will Smith following the Chris Rock slap incident

OPINION: Like everyone else collectively holding our breath to see what the Academy does after the attack on Chris Rock at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday night, there's a growing feeling that when it comes to consequences, the Oscars won't act.

But this time, with the spotlight on their ineffectual fumblings after Will Smith stormed the stage and told host Chris Rock to keep his "wife's name out of his f***ing mouth" after he made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith appearing in GI Jane 2, the pressure will be growing to restore some kind of face to the Hollywood organisation.

As the broadcast cut away to adverts after Questlove gave his speech for the award Rock was there to present, it's been reported key members of the Academy were consulted to see if Smith should be removed following the altercation. CNN reported that the key members were so scattered around the theatre, forming a general consensus would prove impossible in time.

So nothing happened. Strike 1 for the ailing Academy, flailing to keep its relevance and stunned that such a moment should occur in its history.

It was left to extraordinary scenes as everyone rallied around the Smiths, from the likes of Bradley Cooper to Denzel Washington offering counsel and comfort, while most left Rock, the victim of the assault to lick his wounds and head back to his dressing room before exiting the theatre. 

Some solace there for the wronged man. 

After all, Smith initially was seen laughing at Rock's comments before catching a glimpse of a clearly hurt Pinkett Smith rolling her eyes. It was only then that Smith's sudden moral compass kicked into action and he stormed the ramparts like the valiant white knight no-one wanted.

But in seemingly offering Rock nothing, the Academy failed again. Strike 2.

And moments later, Smith was on stage to a standing ovation for his Best Actor award for King Richard, tears rolling down his face as he offered a somewhat pitiful apology for his actions and compared himself to Richard Williams, once again robbing Serena and Venus Williams of their glory, already under fire in an awards season that saw revered director Jane Campion belittle their achievements at the Critics' Choice Awards and then hastily offer an apology for her words.

The fact the Academy is already charting a course of ineffectiveness is clearly obvious from its weak tweet hours after the incident, which said "The Academy does not condone violence of any form. Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world."

It was only when the pressure continued to reverberate from the Slap heard around the world the day after that they announced an investigation was underway. But by then, the vice had already begun to be tightened around their neck. Strike 3 for the better-late-than-never ethos that's clearly evident from this group. 

After all, who can forget the #OscarsSoWhite debacle that should have been foreseen.

What should happen is fairly obvious.

It's too late now to remove Smith from his Oscar. 

That moment has passed, and Smith's mea culpa isn't strong enough, despite saying he was a "work in progress", to satiate the reality of what has happened and the furore around a future for the Oscars.

The Academy has announced it's taking its time in its formal examination of the event and the fall-out, but what it should do is something clear, timely and decisive - it should offer Will Smith no part of the 2023 event when it comes to presenting. 

Traditionally, the best actor winner from the previous year steps up to present the best actress of the current year's crop of nominees. That cordiality should be taken away from Smith and perhaps offered to Jada Pinkett Smith, the victim in all of this, who's sat silently on the sidelines while others have spoken and acted for her.

Make no mistake, this is a crisis crossroads moment for the Academy, but if they're not careful and don't act swiftly, it won't be the slap Will Smith gave Chris Rock that the world hears, it'll be the sound of others slapping them for being too slow and too ineffectual to curb the tide of toxic masculinity that Hollywood is still riddled with - and that has dangerously sat unpunished on their doorstep since the weekend.