Will Smith accepts an Oscar for his performance in "King Richard" at the 94th Oscars at the Dolby ... [+] Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022. TangentDueling accounts have emerged regarding whether Smith was told to leave Sunday’s awards ceremony after he slapped Rock. While the Academy claimed Smith “refused to leave,” Variety and Deadline quoted anonymous sources claiming that Smith was never explicitly asked to do so. One source told Variety that Packer had urged Smith to stay, though another unnamed source “close to Packer” denied this. Further Reading“Will Smith’s Popularity Plunges 30% After Oscars Slap, Poll Finds” (Forbes)

Source: Forbes April 02, 2022 02:58 UTC