The View has been criticized by social media users for dressing a child as the notorious "Oscars slap" by having a bloody handprint on their face.
In a Halloween segment of the talk show titled "Boo Are You Wearing?", several kids came on set wearing "costumes inspired by this year's hottest topics" that included both "horror stories and shocking moments" from pop culture to politics.
One child walked in wearing a gold bodysuit - meant to emulate the Oscars statue - with a red handprint painted over their cheek, referencing the controversial incident where Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage in March.
However, the costume left some viewers with a sour taste as they took issue with the joke and said that the hosts were using children to "promote violence".
Check out the segment below:The View's wardrobe supervisor Ashley Alderfer Kaufman introduced the child dressed as the Oscars slap and said: "This year, the Oscars made huge headlines but it really wasn't about who won, it was about what happened with Best Actor Will Smith when he went up and slapped Chris rock."
While Kaufman said "we do not want to endorse violence of any kind but we couldn’t help but talk about one of the hottest topics of this year," many took to Twitter to complain about the costume.
One user wrote: "@TheView What was that Chris Rock costume??? 'I don’t want to endorse violence but here’s a costume endorsing violence.' DO BETTER!! #theview."
Another said: "The Oscar Slap for a hot topic for Halloween on the view? Next time just pass on this suggestion! Otherwise great Halloween costumes! #theview."
A third commented: "@TheView You people are disgusting. Dressing up a child as will smith’s Oscar slap shows how sick in the head you really are. Keep promoting violence and mental health problems as something normal. Sad world we live in and you are even sadder people."
A fourth user pointed out: "@TheView Difficult to keep up with everything but the red handprint on one's face is the symbol for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Too bad no one was able to flag this costume idea in advance. #MMIWG #TheView."
Smith, who released an apology after the Academy Awards broadcast, was banned from the Oscars for 10 years following the slap but was allowed to keep his award for Best Actor for his film King Richard, which he picked up just minutes after assaulting the show's host.
In a statement, per the Guardian, the Academy denounced the 54-year-old Fresh Prince of Bel-Air actor's "unacceptable" and "harmful" behavior that "overshadowed" the entire evening.
"During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. For this, we are sorry. This was an opportunity for us to set an example for our guests, viewers, and our Academy family around the world, and we fell short - unprepared for the unprecedented," they wrote.
"The Board has decided, for a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards," the Academy added.
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