The world tuned in to the 94th Annual Oscars to watch Will Smith win best actor for his role as Richard Williams in the movie “King Richard.”
Before the win and after the slap heard round the world, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, heretofore referred to as ” the Academy” with its attorneys riding sidesaddle, feverishly poured over liability contracts real-time. Will Smith, an Academy member, legally refused to leave the event after he hit comedian Chris Rock, and the awards ceremony proceeded lawfully with Smith receiving his well-deserved Oscar.
Rock declined to press charges and wisely stayed silent on the attack witnessed globally. The Academy went into full media damage control ultimately and feverishly passing the blame onto Smith however, this organization is contractually liable for what occurred. Had Chris Rock pressed charges, that would have been a different matter, but the Academy’s charter and other structured contracts lay fault at its foot for what took place March 28th.
The Academy is accountable and contractually liable to Chris Rock, Will Smith, other Academy members and attendees at the Oscars for any tortious damages resulting from viewing or experiencing the Oscars assault and battery. This may be why Will Smith chose to resign his membership to the Academy similar to the payout of an insurance policy which then ends upon death and is closed. The contractual language is likely the reason why Smith retained his Oscar.
Most people are looking at the actions of Will Smith, but follow the money and you will surely find the liable party described in the contract.
ALL of Chris Rock’s jokes were vetted by the Academy before he delivered them onstage. There were no jokes about the bombing in Yemen, Team Russia, or the “stop vaxing your kindergartener” campaign. If there were such topics in Rock’s original repertoire, these jokes were quickly screened out and removed by the Academy proving this entity’s contractual fingerprints, hard-fast control of the language and therefore complicity in the joke. Further, this is not the neuroscientific nanotechnology association awards ceremony. The business of the Academy is the entertainment business. In the words of Nikki Minaj, “…between him (Chris Rock) and the whole team @ the #Oscars, you mean to tell me not ONE of y’all just heard this woman share this heartbreaking story? #ComeOnSon.” Clearly, Jada Pinkett Smith, a proud African American woman and her brand, were not important enough to take serious. Neither Chris Rock, the Academy nor the its vetting team considered her humiliation relevant despite her being married to their best actor Oscar recipient. Well, that all changed a week ago because now the Academy has to answer to its agreements written in the language of contracts.
In the spirit of adjudication as it pertains to Michael, O.J., Tiger and even Byron, humiliation is part of the ritual before you get into the club. In the spirit of lying naked in a coffin within a “Tomb” before wrestling in a slather of mud with your brethren, the court trial, the car wreck, the loss of “civil rights” are all part of the humiliation protocol. Joining the club or its peripheral version is the reward. Winning the court trial, surviving the car wreck, gaining a birds-eye view of the glass ceiling and a few contracts; that’s the candy-coated crumbs. First though, you have to play the game.
“You got to dance with them thar’ what brought ya'”