People Are Debating If Will Smith Should Be Stripped Of His Oscar

Following Will Smith's now infamous outburst at the 94th Academy Awards, in which he slapped comedian Chris Rock, Twitter users are debating if the actor should be stripped of his Oscar - which he won 20 minutes after the altercation.

When the altercation first occurred viewers took to social media in shock, but in the hours since many have begun debating the topic, with some calling for Will to return his award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

One Twitter user wrote: "Will Smith should have been escorted out & stripped of his Oscar for his act of violence. Love is not an excuse for violence. Violence is not proof of love. It’s proof of toxicity."

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Another posted in agreement saying: "He assaulted [Rock] live, on air, at the event itself.

Never mind stripping him of the Oscar, he shouldn't have still been in the room to accept it."

Other users, however, have been arguing against such measures, with one posting:

"Chris Rock made a decision to make a joke and took the risk of consequence. Will Smith slapped him on TV he also took a risk of consequence. Let Chris Rock decide if he wants to press charges. I don’t see how the event changes Will Smith’s award."

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Some users have suggested that there's some hypocrisy in calling for Will Smith to be stripped of his Oscar when both Harvey Weinstein and Roman Polanksi still hold theirs.

One Twitter user wrote: "Until Harvey Weinstein is stripped of his Oscars, whether or not Will Smith should lose his Oscar shouldn’t be discussed."

Another commented: "Roman Polanski keeps his Oscar but Will Smith might have his taken away because he defended his wife. okay"

While a third wrote: "Just remember they gave Roman Polanski an Oscar in absentia after he fled the country to avoid a pedophilia conviction"

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Will Smith has since publicly apologised to Chris Rock over the slap, saying:

"I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness. "