Tony Awards Issue ‘No Violence’ Policy After Will Smith Oscars Slap

Will Smith and Chris Rock After Oscars Slap (Credit: YouTube)

It’s no secret Will Smith has been barred from attending the Oscars for the next 10 years after he slapped Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 ceremony.

In light of the infamous moment, Tony Awards producers have added a “strict no violence policy” to their rules and regulations, NBC News reports.

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The new policy was disclosed in the FAQ section of a letter sent to attendees ahead of the 75th Tony Awards. An excerpt of the letter said, “In the event of an incident, the perpetrator will be removed from the event immediately.”

The letter also included other rules, such as dress code and the COVID-19 policy, which requires guests to be fully vaccinated to attend the awards show.

The policy comes weeks after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock for making a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. The King Richard star was never removed from the ceremony, and was able to accept the best actor Oscar for his performance in the film.

Smith has since issued a public apology to Rock and he resigned from the Academy on April 1.

The 75th Tony Awards will take place Sunday, June 12 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, and will air on CBS.


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About Anita Bennett

Anita Bennett is the editor and founder of Urban Hollywood 411. She can be reached on Twitter @tvanita.