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Scott Morrison's comments on Will Smith Oscars slap labelled ‘dangerous’

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is under intense scrutiny for saying he “can understand” why Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock in front of horrified viewers at the Oscar awards on Tuesday.

Mr Morrison, speaking to Brisbane radio station B105, said he saw the moment online and noted that he, like the famed actor, felt “fiercely” protective over his family.

The comments were made after one of the hosts brought up the viral moment during the interview.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison during Question Time on March 30.
Scott Morrison's comments on a Brisbane radio station have drawn heated backlash. Source: AAP/File

“I was just thinking about it, I was like, you’d be watching that thinking ‘I’d love to do that’… you’d never do it in parliament,” the host said.

“I’m also fiercely defensive of anyone who would say anything about Jenny too, so I can understand it,” Mr Morrison said with a laugh.

He then added: “That’s not how you roll.”

Grace Tame says comments 'encourage' perpetrators

The comments drew heated backlash from former Australian of the Year Grace Tame, who accused the prime minister of sending a “dangerous” message.

“Show sympathy for acts of violence using love as the excuse, sure that’s a great message from a prime minister,” Ms Tame wrote on Twitter.

In a second tweet an hour later, Ms Tame, an advocate for sexual assault survivors, explained how perpetrators and survivors would interpret Mr Morrison’s comments.

“Perpetrators of paedophilia, sexual assault, domestic violence and other forms of abuse—who are already empowered—see this and are encouraged,” she wrote.

“Survivors—who are disempowered—see it and are discouraged.

“Messages like this are dangerous. They reinforce a stark imbalance of power.”

Ms Tame has no qualms with letting the world know how she feels about Mr Morrison’s leadership.

Photos of the pair went viral earlier this year during an awkward meeting outside The Lodge for the 2022 Australian of the Year Finalists Morning Tea, with Ms Tame’s ‘side-eye’ making headlines across the country.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison smiles as 2021 Australian of the Year Grace Tame looks at the ground.
Ms Tame's notorious 'side-eye' photo with Scott Morrison went viral in February. Source: AAP

Will Smith to be disciplined over slap

Will Smith could be suspended or even expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences after it initiated disciplinary proceedings against over the incident.

On Wednesday night (local time) Chris Rock performed stand-up comedy for the first time since the infamous moment, telling a Boston audience he was still processing what happened but he would talk about it "at some point".

The academy's board of governors met on Wednesday to begin action against Mr Smith for violating the organisation's standards of conduct.

Discipline could include suspension, expulsion or other sanctions, the academy said.

Will Smith remained seated in the front row after the incident, and the academy suggested it attempted to remove the actor from the audience.

"Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated," the academy said.

"While we would like to clarify that Mr Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognise we could have handled the situation differently."

with AP

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