Actor Will Smith apologized to the Academy, and fans on Sunday night’s live broadcast after slapping the host Chris Rock. Leaving the audience stunned…
The Academy tweeted a response:
The Academy does not condone violence of any form.
Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world.
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 28, 2022
UPDATE: Will Smith Apologizes To Chris Rock On Instagram Today. The Oscar winner took to his page and posted this note:
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- Courtesy: ABC
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- Courtesy: ABC
Smith 53, who is a three-time nominee picked up his first Best Actor Award at the 94th Academy Awards last night. He tearfully apologized during his acceptance speech:
Before accepting his award, friends and fellow 2022 Oscar nominee Denzel Washington and Director/Producer and Actor, Tyler Perry both took him aside during a commercial break. Sources say as they spoke with Will they gave him comforting advice. Wise words to help him move on and power through the night.
“In this business, you’ve got to be able to have people disrespecting you, and you’ve got to smile and you’ve got to pretend like that’s OK.
What I loved – Denzel Washington said to me a few minutes ago, he said, ‘At your highest moment, be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you.’
I want to be a vessel for love.
I want to say thank you to Venus and Serena and the entire Williams family for entrusting me with your story. That’s what I want to do. I want to be an ambassador of that kind of love and care and concern. I want to apologize to the Academy. I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees.” However, Chris Rock’s name was not mentioned.
Below: Actress, Jada Pinkett Smith is visibly unamused by Rock’s hair joke.
ABC
Smith walked up on stage and smacked Chris Rock, 57 across the face after Rock made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair.
The comedian mocked her bald head style by saying “Jada I love you, GI Jane 2 can’t wait to see it.” It is a reference to the 1997 movie G.I. Jane starring Demi Moore. Moore played a woman who shaves her head in order to train as the first female navy seal officer.
Not sure if this was an insult only because in the film, Moore who was said to be in the best physical shape of her life, gave an incredible performance while looking fabulous. The beautiful Jada herself easily could have been cast for that role.
Since Jada has been very candid about her struggles with alopecia she appeared not to be amused by Chris’ remarks. She then followed up with a disapproval eye-roll. And that’s when Will set it off.
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myjEoDypUD8[/embedyt]
Video via Guardian News
The altercation was not scripted, it was real and very much live. What started as a monologue aimed at first-time Oscar nominees, husband and wife actors Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz – suddenly shifted towards Jada, 50. Smith and Bardem were up against each other in the Best Actor category. Jada was clearly not impressed with Chris’ joke. And this wasn’t the first time that Rock targeted Jada at the Oscars.
History:
Some sources say that the A-list actor is still upset from the 2016 Oscars where Chris Rock also had hosted and joked about Jada by saying “Jada boycotting the awards is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties, I wasn’t invited.” In response to the actress asking fellow actors to take a stand and boycott the 2016 Oscars. At the time, it was proclaimed ‘Oscars so white’ because the awards did not have many diverse actors/actresses nominees.
After Smith hit him on stage at Sunday’s Oscar, Chris then said “Oh wow Will Smith just smacked the [bleep] out of me.” Will then shouted to him twice “keep my wife’s name out of your [bleep] mouth.”
Will Smith won the Best Actor award for the 2021 inspiring drama King Richard. Smith plays Richard Williams, the father of tennis superstars Venus Williams and Serena Williams, who against all odds train both of his daughters to make it into the world of tennis.
Jada Pinkett Smith opens up to her fans on Instagram – back in December 2021 about her issues with the autoimmune disease and hair loss:
She also spoke out about it candidly on her popular Facebook Red Table talk show. She co-hosts with her daughter, Willow Smith, and her mother, Adrienne Banfield Norris.
Will, Jada, and Chris Rock were all in attendance at the Oscar after-parties last night.
Published by Holr Magazine