Will Smith has publicly apologized to Chris Rock for slapping him across the face on the Oscars stage Sunday night.
“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable,” Smith wrote on Instagram and was viewed by many including online casinos us users.
“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 apologize 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.
“I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress”.
The apology comes hours after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Monday condemned Smith’s actions and launched an official inquiry into the incident. The altercation between Smith and Rock happened after the comedian made a joke at the expense of Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
When Rock took the stage to present the Oscar for best documentary feature, he directed his comedy to the couple. Rock said he was looking forward to seeing Pinkett Smith in G.I. Jane 2 — making fun of her shaved head. She has shaved her head because of the hair loss condition alopecia.
“Jada, I love you. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it, all right?” Chris joked on stage about Jada Pinkett Smith, who had a shaved head. “That was a nice one, OK?”
Will then walked on stage, slapped Chris and returned to his seat. He shouted, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f–king mouth!”
Will ended up winning the Best Actor Oscar for playing Richard Williams in the movie King Richard and used his speech to apologize for the incident. “I want to apologize to the Academy, I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees,” Will said while breaking down. “This is a beautiful moment and I’m not crying for winning an award, it’s not about winning an award for me.”
The actor later made a comparison to the “crazy father” he played onscreen, before sharing advice he received from Denzel Washington after slapping the comedian. “In this business you gotta have people disrespecting you and you gotta pretend that that’s OK,” he said. “Denzel said to me a few minutes ago, ‘At your highest moment, be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you.'”
After the unscripted moment went viral on social media, celebs weighed in. They seemed to be just as shocked as viewers at home, with some backing Will and others defending Chris. Read their responses below curated by jeux casino en ligne.
Jaden Smith: “And That’s How We Do It”
Jaden Smith: “My Dads Speech Made Me Cry”
Maria Shriver: “We should never get to a place where we sit and watch a movie star hit someone on global television then, moments later, get a standing ovation while talking about love. #WillSmith #Oscars.”
Trevor Noah: “Wtaf????? That wasn’t scripted?????”
Nicki Minaj: “I love Chris Rock. I don’t think he would’ve made that joke had he known what Jada recently shared- but between him & the whole team @ the #Oscars you mean to tell me not ONE of y’all heard this woman just share this heartbreaking story? #ComeOnSon … Here’s the thing… And this is such an AMAZING – EYE OPENING example of it… The husband gets a front row seat to his wife’s pain… he’s the 1 consoling her… drying her tears behind closed doors when those cameras go off. Social media has made ppl feel that these ‘husbands’ won’t ever run into them in real life.”
Cheryl Burke: “I can’t stop thinking about what we saw at the Oscars. I don’t agree with making fun of a medical condition, but the way Will handled it wasn’t ok. As a survivor of abuse, I think a leader of his stature should show kids, esp his own, how to handle conflict with love not fear.”
Will Smith, Chris Rock, 2022 Oscars, Show
Myung Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Cardi B: “At your highest moment …be careful that’s when the devil tries to come for you.”
