Oscars 2022: Netizens demand Will Smith's Best Actor Award be taken back, critcise The Academy's 'does not condone violence' statement

This year's Oscars ceremony is sure to go down in history. Will Smith was awarded Oscars for the Best Actor for his performance in King Richard, shortly after he slapped Chris Rock who was presenting the award for Best Documentary. Rock had joked about Smith's wife, which did not land well with the actor. Will Smith walked onto the stage and slapped him. 

The Academy later issued a statement that it does not condone any form of violence and that the 'winners deserve a moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around thr world'. Though Smith too apologised to the Academy during his acceptance speech, many film-goers did find it acceptable and called out the Academy for doing exactly what it claims not to do. Many took to social media to express their angst, some even sarcastically and demanded that Will Smith's Best Actor Award be taken back.

Twitterati have been posting comments on the statement, criticising the Academy, asking why was he allowed to sit through the ceremony and given an award after he indulged in an act of violence. 

Some pointed out that by presenting an award to Will Smith after the act and giving him a standing ovation is actually, 'condoning violence'.

Some even recalled the other award winners, who have been accused of crimes, asking that their awards be returned. 

The Oscars 2022 was presented today on March 28.