Whoopi Goldberg has insisted that Will Smith won't have his Oscar taken away from him after he broke the Academy's code of conduct by slapping Chris Rock.
Will, 53, has since apologized for assaulting Chris, 57, at Sunday night's Oscars ceremony, saying his behavior was 'unacceptable and inexcusable' and left him 'embarrassed'.
The group that hands out the Oscars condemned Will's actions on Monday and said it had started a formal review of the incident, yet Academy Governor Whoopi has insisted that the fallout won't be as dramatic as stripping Will of the honour.
READ ALSO: Will Smith apologises to Chris Rock after Oscars slap
Speaking on the US talk show The View, Goldberg, who is a serving Governor for the Academy's Actors branch, went on to defend Will's actions, reasoning: 'sometimes you behave badly'.
Will had slapped Chris in front of the world on live television after the comedian made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's hair.
Whoopi said on Monday's show: 'I think it was a lot of stuff probably built up.
'I think he overreacted… I think he had one of those moments where it was like [God damn] it, just stop. I get it, not everybody acts the way we would like them to act under pressure. And he snapped...
'Sometimes you get to a point when you behave badly. I myself have behaved badly on occasion.'
Whoopi's co-host Sunny Hostin said that she was 'surprised [Will] wasn't escorted out', and questioned if there was the possibility of Will's Oscar being taken away.
Whoopi replied: 'We're not going to take that Oscar from him.
'There will be consequences I'm sure, but I don't think that's what they're going to do, particularly because Chris said 'Listen, I'm not pressing any charges.'
READ ALSO: Will Smith hits Chris Rock on Oscars stage
Despite Whoopi's comments, there have been calls for the Academy to strip Will of his Best Actor Oscar.
The Academy, in its code of conduct, is known to take a very a dim view of violence of any kind.
After the award ceremony was over it tweeted: 'The Academy does not condone violence of any form. Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world.'
The Academy reestablished its Code of Conduct in 2017 during the Me Too Movement.
'Academy membership is a privilege offered to only a select few within the global community of filmmakers,' AMPAS CEO Dawn Hudson wrote to members following various scandals in the industry.
On Sunday night, in the Dolby Theatre, there was complete bewilderment in the moments after the assault with took place with those present initially wondering if the punch was part of a stunt.
The punch threw the entire Oscars broadcast into chaos as producers were frantically forced into deciding how to deal with the on-air assault, with Smith still yet to receive his Best Actor statuette.
Will has since apologised in an Instagram post, stating that he was 'embarrassed' by his actions, which shocked the ceremony attendees, producers and viewers.
'Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive,' he wrote.
'My behavior at last night's Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada's medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.
'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.'
Will then went on to say sorry to the organizers and the producers of the show.
Chris has not responded to Will's apology, or commented on the Sunday night incident.
It has also been claimed that Chris was not aware that Jada suffers with alopecia, after he made a joke about her bald head looking like 'G.I. Jane.'
Will also extended his apology to the family of Venus and Serena Williams.
Shortly after slapping Chris, Will won the best actor award for his portrayal of their father Richard - but the story of their family was overshadowed by Smith's attack.
READ ALSO: List of winners at Oscars 2022
Richard Williams - who the Oscar-winner portrays in King Richard - said after the attack that he condemns violence.
Chavoita LeSane, Richard's son, told NBC: 'We don't know all the details of what happened. But we don't condone anyone hitting anyone else unless it's in self-defense.'
Will said: 'I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world,' Smith continued.
'I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us.'
The Philadelphia-born actor concluded: 'I am a work in progress. Sincerely, Will.'
Jada has yet to speak out about the incident.
In his acceptance speech a crying Will said: 'Love makes you do crazy things', as he clutched his Oscar statuette.
'You gotta be able to take abuse, and you gotta be able to have people talk crazy about you.
'In this business, you gotta be able to have people disrespecting you and you gotta smile and you gotta pretend like that's OK.
'Denzel (Washington) said to me a few minutes ago, he said, "At your highest moment, be careful. That's when the devil comes for you." It's like I want to be a vessel for love.
'I want to say thank you to Venus and Serena. I want to say thank you to Venus and Serena and the entire Williams family for entrusting me with your story. That's what I want to do. I want to be an ambassador of that kind of love and care and concern.'
The actor went on: 'I want to apologize to the Academy, I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees.
'Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said. I look like the crazy father just like they said about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things'.
He added: 'I'm hoping the Academy invites me back. Thank you'.
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