Will Smith was asked to leave the Oscars after meeting Chris Rock, but declined

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences said Sunday that Will Smith was asked to go to Sunday’s Oscars after beating Chris Rick, but he turned it down.

Some have wondered why Smith was allowed to sit in the front row at the Academy Awards after the incident.

On Wednesday, the academy proposed removing the actor from the audience.

“Things developed in a way that we could not have foreseen,” the academy said.

“While we would like to clarify that Mr Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognize that we could have handled the situation differently.”

The academy’s board of directors met Wednesday to initiate a disciplinary proceeding against Smith for violating the group’s standards of conduct.

The academy said Smith has an opportunity to defend himself in a written response before the board meets again on April 18. The academy said disciplinary action against Smith could include suspension, expulsion or other sanctions.

The film academy had previously condemned Smith’s attack on Rock on stage. But it used stronger language on Wednesday.

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“Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in person and on television,” the Academy said.

“Mr. Rock, we apologize for what you experienced on our stage and thank you for your resilience at this moment. We also apologize to our nominees, guests and viewers for what happened during a celebratory event.”

On Monday, Smith apologized to Rock, the Academy and viewers, saying, “I was out of line and I was wrong.”