More than 24 hours have passed since Oscars night. But one moment is playing on repeat across social media and drawing commentary from across the world. It is the moment when Will Smith climbed up on stage and slapped Chris Rock.  

Incredibly, this is far from the worst behaviour the Oscars have ever seen. In 1973, when activist Sacheen LittlefeatherA Native American civil rights activist most famous for rejecting Marlon Brando's Best Actor Award on his behalf at the 1973 Oscars. She claims she was blacklisted by Hollywood after the incident. used the awards to draw attention to Native American rights, top actor John WayneHis most famous films include Red River, The Searchers and True Grit. had to be physically restrained from attacking her.

In fact, there has always been a dark undercurrent beneath the glitz and the glamour. The Oscars have honoured many people accused or actually convicted of violence and abuse: Roman Polanski, Woody Allen, Kevin Spacey and most infamously of all, Harvey Weinstein.

That is why some think it is time to break free of celebrity culture. They think we have ended up elevating the wrong people.

They argue celebrities are either bland and vacuous or badly behaved. They set a poor example and distract us from what is important.

Even when celebrities try to do good, they often end up making it all about themselves. At the beginning of the pandemic, Gal Gadot and 24 other celebrities released a video of themselves singing Imagine to help people through the lockdown. 

Many felt it was tone-deaf to show themselves enjoying lockdown in their enormous mansions while others were cooped up in tiny flats and worrying about jobs, money and food.

Some suggest the answer is to invent a new kind of celebrity. The School of LifeAn educational company that tackles real-life issues. suggests we should introduce awards for things that we really care about, like forgiveness and good communication.

But others point out we have always admired people for the wrong reasons. Many of history's greatest artists were considered enfants terribles in their own time. Lord ByronAn English poet (1788 - 1824) known for both beautiful short lyrics and entertaining epic poems. is today one of the world's most famous poets, but in his life, he was seen as a moody teenager who paraded around with his pet bear and frequently lashed out at his peers.

Sometimes we have even turned criminals into celebrities. Gangsters like Al CaponeAn Italian-American gangster of the early 20th Century who became famous during the Prohibition era. were turned into romantic Robin Hood figures by an adoring press. Serial killers like Jack the RipperA serial killer in Victorian London who savagely murdered at least five women. The case intrigued the press and it received a great deal of coverage., Charles MansonAn American cult leader and musician who carried out a number of brutal murders with his family in the late 1960s. After his imprisonment his music soared in popularity. and the Zodiac Killer have attracted cult followings.

The truth is, fans argue, we enjoy the drama of celebrities' lives. We cannot help but get invested in the ups and downs of these glamorous strangers. Celebrity culture may not be edifying, but it is all in good fun.

Some say it is wrong to blame the celebrities themselves. It is the culture that makes them like this.

Big film stars are followed everywhere they go by paparazzi hoping to catch them off guard. Papers pore over their private lives and write snide articles about everything from their finances to their weight.

Constantly being the centre of attention is enough to warp anyone's thinking. If we want better celebrities, they argue, we need to give them a bit less of our time, and a lot more of our empathy.

Yes: When we elevate celebrities who are immature, sulky and vain, we encourage others to behave in the same way. If we find better celebrities, we will become better people ourselves.

No: All the media attention is on the celebrities who cause trouble, but it was other celebrities - Denzell Washington and Samuel L Jackson who defused the tensions last night.

Or... Celebrities are no different from the rest of us; it is fame that makes them behave badly. Rather than swapping our celebrities for new ones, we must change our celebrity culture.

Sacheen Littlefeather - A Native American civil rights activist most famous for rejecting Marlon Brando's Best Actor Award on his behalf at the 1973 Oscars. She claims she was blacklisted by Hollywood after the incident.

John Wayne - His most famous films include Red River, The Searchers and True Grit.

The School of Life - An educational company that tackles real-life issues.

Enfants terribles - A person who acts in a way that is considered unconventional or controversial. It is often used semi-admiringly about artists who behave badly.

Lord Byron - An English poet (1788 - 1824) known for both beautiful short lyrics and entertaining epic poems.

Al Capone - An Italian-American gangster of the early 20th Century who became famous during the Prohibition era.

Jack the Ripper - A serial killer in Victorian London who savagely murdered at least five women. The case intrigued the press and it received a great deal of coverage.

Charles Manson - An American cult leader and musician who carried out a number of brutal murders with his family in the late 1960s. After his imprisonment his music soared in popularity.