G.I. Jane
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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During the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022, Smith walked onstage and slapped presenter and comedian Chris Rock after Rock joked about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head with a reference to the film G.I. Jane. In 2018, Pinkett Smith was diagnosed with alopecia and later shaved her hair off due to the condition. Smith then returned to his seat and yelled to Rock, twice, to "Keep my wife's name out your fucking mouth!"
Later in the night, Smith was named Best Actor for King Richard and apologized to the Academy and the other nominees, but not to Rock, in his acceptance speech.
His acceptance speech, in which he appealed to God calling on him to do "crazy things" in the name of love was described as "dangerous, self-serving cant" by the British magazine The Economist, which also noted that he received a standing ovation from the audience for his comments.
Rock declined to press charges against Smith. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences put out a statement following the event condemning violence. The following day, the Academy announced that it launched a formal review of the incident, and would "explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law", including potential suspension of Smith's membership or termination and expulsion from the Academy, or revocation of his Academy Award for Best Actor.
