If a nominee had slapped a presenter at the BAFTA Awards, as Will Smith infamously slapped Chris Rock at the Academy Awards on Sunday, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts would not have allowed him to remain at the ceremony.
The British Academy Film Awards, or BAFTA Awards, is an annual award show like the Oscars. Executives from the organization shared their thoughts about the Oscars incident in an interview with THR, making it clear that Smith would not have been allowed to receive an award or even to stay for the rest of the ceremony if it had happened at their event.
Sara Putt, the deputy chair of BAFTA, stated that "They would be removed from the ceremony" in the hypothetical scenario of a similar incident occurring at the BAFTA Awards. "They would not be in the buildings, so they would not physically be able to collect their award." Putt's fellow exec Emma Baehr agreed, saying, "We do not tolerate violence of any kind."
Smith's role in King Richard, for which he won the Oscar for Best Actor, also earned him BAFTA's award for best actor in a leading role. However, he was unable to attend the event, which took place in London on March 13.
During the 94th Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday, March 27, Smith took offense to a joke that event host Rock made about Smith's wife. Rock referenced Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head, which is a result of her struggle with alopecia. Smith rushed onto the stage and struck Rock across the face before returning to his seat and then twice shouting, "Keep my wife's name out your fucking mouth!" The entirety of the incident was filmed, as part of the live event.
Smith remained for the duration of the ceremony and later was awarded the Oscar for Best Actor, which he was controversially allowed to accept onstage. While doing so, he made an emotional but vague apology. The next day, he issued another public apology, this time naming Rock directly, on social media. There have been conflicting reports about whether he was asked to leave the Oscars after slapping Rock, but the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences recently announced plans to begin disciplinary proceedings for violating the Academy's Standards of Conduct.
Rock declined to press charges, but if he had, the Los Angeles police were prepared to arrest Smith on battery charges.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter