Could the Academy take Will Smith’s Oscar back after he slapped Chris Rock?

Will Smith, who won the 2022 best actor Oscar for his role in King Richard, now faces possible disciplinary action by the Academy after hitting Chris Rock at the award ceremony. Photograph: Nina Prommer/EPA

The slap that overshadowed the 94th Academy Awards is far from being swept under the red carpet.

Actor Will Smith attacked Chris Rock after the comedian made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, at the ceremony. The joke appeared to reference Pinkett Smith’s alopecia, an auto-immune disease that causes hair loss. Later in the night, Smith won his first Oscar for his role in King Richard.