Will Smith jumped out of his chair at the 2022 Oscars and stepped onto the Dolby Theater stage to slap Chris Rock in the face. Shortly thereafter, he was awarded the best actor award. The slap was a response to Rock’s comment about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith. It quickly became world news. Pinkett Smith has been open with her struggles with alopecia. Rock made a joke about Pinkett Smith being likened to the lead role in the movie. G.I. Jane. Demi Moore played the role of this character in the 1997 movie.
Smith posted an Instagram apology on Monday. “Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive,” Smith wrote. “My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. 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.”
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He continued, “I would publicly apologize for you, Chris.” I was not in line with the rules and I was wrong. I am embarrassed by my actions, which are not indicative the man I want. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”
He ended by apologizing more widely: “I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I apologize to the Williams Family, my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us.”
Smith ended the note, “I am a work in progress.”
Smith made a reference to the incident in his best actor acceptance speech on Saturday night, but he didn’t apologize to Rock. “I want to apologize to the Academy. He said, “I want to apologize for all my fellow nominees.” “Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams,” he added, later in the speech. “But love will make you do crazy things.”
The Los Angeles Police Department stated that Rock had not chosen not to file a report regarding Smith on Sunday. On Monday, the Academy released a statement condemning Smith’s action and adding that a “formal review” is underway.
Source: Glamour