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Retired three-time world champion Mick Fanning will chase a fifth Bells Beach title after being awarded a wildcard for next month's World Surf League event in Victoria.

Fanning, who retired from the tour in 2018, competed last year as a wildcard at Narrabeen but says a return to Bells is a dream outcome.

"Bells is the one I was really aiming for," he said.

"It's a place that is really close to my heart and if I was ever going to take a wildcard it would be there, so I'm pretty fired up."

The 40-year-old has 22 tour victories including four Bells titles, putting him alongside Kelly Slater, Lisa Andersen, Stephanie Gilmore and Mark Richards for wins at the Victorian point-break.

Only Gail Couper, with five Bells triumphs, has won more times at the venue.

"To go and ring the bell for the fifth time, no one has ever done it apart from Gail Couper," Fanning said.

"During my career I got close, but right now I just want to focus on putting on a good performance.

"My preparation when I was on tour was non-stop training but this time around I've just been focusing on my surfing and making sure it's up to the level of the best in the world."

The window for the event at Bells, the fourth stop on this year's WSL tour, opens on April 10.

Japan's Kanoa Igarashi holds top spot in the men's rankings with Costa Rica's Brisa Hennessy leading the women's competition.

The remaining wildcards for the men's and women's draws will be decided at a local trials event from April 7, with 20 men and 20 women competing for the one spot in each division.

© AAP 2022

The day after slapping presenter Chris Rock on stage at the Academy Awards, actor Will Smith has issued an apology to the comedian, saying he was "out of line".

The fallout from Sunday's Oscars continued on Monday as the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences condemned Smith's onstage assault and promised to launch an inquiry.

Later in the day, Smith gave a stronger apology than he did during his best-actor acceptance speech, which notably did not include a mention of Rock.

"Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive," Smith said.

"My behaviour 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 apologise 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."

Smith added apologies to the film academy, producers of the telecast, attendees, viewers and the Williams family.

Smith was honoured with the best actor Oscar for his role as Richard Williams, father of tennis superstars Venus and Serena.

"I am a work in progress," Smith said.

Earlier on Monday, the film academy had released a statement condeming Smith's actions.

"We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our bylaws, standards of conduct and California law," they said.

Smith shocked the Dolby Theatre crowd and viewers at home when he took to the stage during Rock's presentation, after the comedian made a joke about the hair of Jada Pinkett Smith, the actor's wife.

The joke touched a nerve. Pinkett Smith, whose head is shaved, has spoken publicly about her alopecia diagnosis.

Smith strode on stage and slapped Rock across the face. Back in his seat, Smith twice shouted for Rock to "get my wife's name out your f***ing mouth."

Within an hour, Smith was back on stage to collect the best actor award. During his acceptance speech, he apologised to the academy and his fellow nominees.

The Los Angeles Police Department said it was aware of the incident but not pursuing an investigation because the person involved declined to file a police report.

Whoopi Goldberg, a member of the Academy's board of governors, said on Monday on The View: "We're not going to take that Oscar from him. There will be consequences, I'm sure".

The Screen Actors Guild also weighed in, calling the incident "unacceptable" and said "violence or physical abuse in the workplace is never acceptable".

A sense of disbelief hung in the air at the Dolby Theatre after Smith's assault.

Not only was it a hard-to-fathom break with decorum on live national television - an incident so dramatic, even movie-like, that many initially assumed it was a staged bit - it seemed wildly out of character for one of Hollywood's most relentlessly upbeat stars.

Some questioned whether Smith should have been allowed to continue to sit front and centre after smacking Rock.

Several stars rushed to counsel and calm Smith, including Denzel Washington, Bradley Cooper and Tyler Perry. But the timing was also awkward because the best actor category was due up soon after, and Smith had long been considered a lock-in for the award.

"I know we're all still processing, but the way casual violence was normalised tonight by a collective national audience will have consequences that we can't even fathom in the moment," wrote Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, on Twitter.

© RAW 2022

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, host of the Oscars, has condemned Will Smith's televised slap of presenter Chris Rock and has launched a formal review of the incident that cast a shadow over Hollywood's glitziest night.

Smith strode on stage during the live telecast and struck Rock in the face after the comedian made a joke about the appearance of Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Less than an hour later, Smith won the best actor Oscar for his role in King Richard.

In a statement on Monday, the 9900-member film academy said it "condemns the actions of Mr Smith at last night's show".

"We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law," the statement said.

The group's standards of conduct policy states it is "categorically opposed to any form of abuse, harassment or discrimination" and expects members to uphold the values "of respect for human dignity, inclusion, and a supportive environment that fosters creativity".

Violations may result in suspension or expulsion from the group, revocation of Oscars, or loss of eligibility for future awards, according to the policy.

As he accepted the best actor trophy, Smith apologised to the academy and fellow nominees, but not to Rock, and said he hoped he would be invited back to the Oscars.

It is rare but not unprecedented for the film academy to revoke membership.

Producer Harvey Weinstein was expelled in 2017 after more than three dozen women accused him of sexual assault. Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski were kicked out in 2018.

Cosby was convicted of drugging and sexually assaulting a woman in 2004, though a judge later overturned the conviction. Polanski admitted to having unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Oscars producers had been hoping for a memorable night on Sunday to rebound from record-low ratings last year during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They brought in three hosts, opened the show with Beyonce and tried to keep things moving by editing some acceptance speeches.

But it was Smith's outburst that became the most talked-about moment of the night, with pictures and video dominating social media.

Television viewership did jump sharply from last year, to an average of 15.36 million people, according to preliminary estimates. That represented a 56 per cent boost from 2021's record low.

Feel-good movie CODA won the best picture prize, marking a turning point in Hollywood because the film was streamed by Apple TV+ rather than heading exclusively to cinemas.

The New York Times, citing two anonymous industry officials, said there were serious discussions about removing Smith from the Dolby Theatre - the venue for the presentations - following his attack on Rock.

But time was short, because the best actor award was fast approaching, one of the sources told the newspaper, and stakeholders had varying opinions on how to proceed.

Many Hollywood celebrities denounced Smith's actions.

"Will Smith owes Chris Rock a huge apology. There is no excuse for what he did," filmmaker Rob Reiner said on Twitter.

Others supported Smith for defending his wife.

"That's what your husband is supposed to do, right? Protect you," comedian Tiffany Haddish told People magazine.

"Maybe the world might not like how it went down, but for me, it was the most beautiful thing I ever seen."

© RAW 2022