Offering his thoughts on the subject. After Will Smith made headlines for slapping Chris Rock At the 2022 Oscars, the comedian found his own way to approach drama.
At the 94th Annual Academy Awards, Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smithher head shaved when he suggested she should be thrown in GI Jane 2. After Pinkett Smith, who suffers from alopecia, rolled her eyes at the comment, her husband approached the stage and slapped the Saturday Night Live alum.
“Will Smith just slapped the shit on me,” Rock said in uncensored footage that later circulated online. As he returned to his seat, the King Richard The star yelled at the South Carolina native to “keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth.”
At the time, a source exclusively told We Weekly that Rock and Smith did not interact privately after the incident. “Chris is focused on his tour,” the insider said in late March. “He’s moving on and looking forward to his upcoming gigs.”
On a comedy show the same month, Rock confirmed he hadn’t heard from Smith. “I haven’t spoken to anyone despite what you may have heard,” said the The adults the actor told the audience, according to multiple outlets.
the Coupling The actor, for his part, issued a public apology for his “unacceptable and inexcusable” actions a day after the awards ceremony. “I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of place and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no room for violence in a world of love and kindness,” he wrote via Instagram.
Smith added, “I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the show’s producers, all of the contestants, 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 tainted what has been an otherwise magnificent journey for all of us.
Pinkett Smith, for her part, seemingly responded to the drama when she shared a quote on Instagram, which read, “It’s a healing season and I’m here for it.”
Amid the controversy, Smith announced his decision to resign from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. “My actions during the presentation of the 94th Academy Awards were shocking, painful and inexcusable,” he said in a statement in April, according to Variety. “The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all in attendance and a global audience back home. I have betrayed the trust of the Academy .
The organization conducted its own investigation into the altercation which resulted in Smith being banned from all Oscars events for 10 years as punishment.
“The 94th Academy Awards was meant to be a celebration of the many people in our community who did an incredible job last year; however, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behavior we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage,” the Academy President said. david rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson indicated in a letter after the board meeting. “During our TV show, we did not adequately address the situation in the venue. For that, 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 weren’t up to it – not prepared for the unprecedented.
the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum reacted to the news, telling Page 6“I accept and respect the Academy’s decision.”
Scroll down for all the references Rock has made about the Oscars slap: