Here's What Whoopi Goldberg Thinks Will Happen To Will Smith's Oscar
When Will Smith bolted onto the stage at the 94th Annual Academy Awards to slap presenter Chris Rock across the face, he was just an Oscar nominee and not yet a winner.
But, soon after the incident that the world watched live, Smith won the Oscar for best actor — making him the fourth Black actor in history to do so — for his role as Richard Williams in "King Richard."
Smith's violent outburst came after Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head. The comedian posited that she might star in "G.I. Jane 2," a fictional sequel to the 1997 film "G.I. Jane," which features Demi Moore with a shaved head. Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia, according to CNN, a disorder that causes hair loss, and she reportedly shaves her head because of it.
After apologizing to the Academy and his fellow nominees during his teaful acceptance speech, Smith offered an official apology to Rock the next day. "I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris," he said (via Variety). "I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness."
While Rock refused to press charges, there has been talk of Smith's Oscar being taken away, and Whoopi Goldberg has the scoop on what will likely happen.
Whoopi Goldberg thinks Will Smith will keep his Oscar
On the March 28, 2022, episode of "The View," Whoopi Goldberg — an Oscar winner herself for her role in "Ghost" (via Variety) and governor of the Academy's acting branch — said she believed that Will Smith's behavior at the Oscars won't prevent him from keeping the award.
"We're not going to take that Oscar from him," she said (via Page Six). "There will be consequences, I'm sure, but I don't think that's what they're going to do, particularly because Chris said, 'Listen, I'm not pressing any charges.'" Goldberg did not specify what those consequences might be.
While Smith will likely get to keep his Oscar, the Academy did issue a stern statement about the incident. "The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith," the statement read (via Page Six). "We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law."