'Can't Raise Hand': LI Club Owner Reacts To Will Smith Slap

BELLMORE, NY — It's the slap heard 'round the world.

No doubt you've seen it by now. Will Smith takes offense to a joke by Chris Rock at the Oscars Sunday night. Seconds after an apparent chuckle, Smith lept from his seat to hit the comedian. Back in the audience, the fireworks were just getting started as Smith screamed and cursed at Rock to drop jokes about his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith.

Within an hour, though, Smith was back on stage for a lengthy, emotional acceptance speech/apology for his tirade as he won an Oscar for "King Richard."

James Dolce, the owner of Brokerage Comedy Club in Bellmore and Governor's in Levittown, said he would have had Smith removed from the theater.

"You can't raise your hand to somebody," Dolce told Patch. "This is not the world we live in."

Whether you like the joke Rock made, referencing Pinkett Smith's alopecia, Dolce said a comics' job is to find humor in sensitive topics and "take a dig at it."

The concern is Smith's action will cause future audience members to have a similar reaction.

Dolce said his clubs are already strong against heckling. If someone interacts with a comic negatively, a staffer will give a warning. The customer could get moved to the bar.

He said it's possible this incident could lead to more security at clubs.

"You do have to watch over a room. There's a live performance going on," he said.

Those in attendance at the Oscars, if not watching on TV, could feel the awkwardness. Dolce knows verbal confrontations lead to uncomfortable customers.

"It does ruin the show. But we don't let it get to that point," Dolce said.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on Monday they are launching a formal review of Smith, including the potential for disciplinary action, Variety reported.