Will Smith Apologizes For Slapping
Hollywood star Will Smith apologizes for slapping Chris Rock ” the comedian” on stage at the Oscars.
“My behavior at the Academy Awards yesterday was unacceptable and inexcusable,” Smith wrote on Instagram yesterday. “Jokes at my expense are part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s health was too much for me, and I responded emotionally.”
Smith wrote that he wanted to apologize to Rock, the organizers of the Oscars, the audience and everyone involved in the film “King Richard”. The incident is embarrassing for him.
“King Richard” reprimands Smith
The real “King Richard” also spoke up. Richard Williams (80) said through his son Chavoita LeSane: “We do not know all the details of what happened. But we don’t condone anyone hitting another unless it’s in self-defense,” NBC News reported.
LeSane said his father was just as surprised by the incident as anyone else. Since his father suffered a stroke in 2016, LeSane has served as his public spokesman.
Oscar Academy condemns slap in the face
The organizers of the Oscars condemned Smith’s actions and announced that they would consider the consequences. “The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at yesterday’s show,” said a statement from the organizers yesterday, which was available to the dpa. “We have officially started a formal investigation into the incident and will review further proceedings and consequences.”
Smith slapped Rock hard at Sunday night’s Oscars on the stage at Hollywood’s Dolby Theater after the comedian made a joke about Smith’s hair-losing wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
Shortly thereafter, Smith won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the film King Richard. In his acceptance speech, Smith tearfully apologized to the Oscar Academy and the other nominees – but not to Rock.
The oscars after the slap
This year’s Oscars are female, queer and inclusive: Jane Campion won the award for best director, Sian Heder’s deaf drama “Coda” won the Oscar for best film, and Ariana DeBose, an openly queer, non-white woman, won best supporting actress. But the gala was overshadowed by the scandal surrounding Will Smith. The actor, who later also won an Oscar, surprisingly gave comedian Chris Rock a slap, causing irritation.
Even if it had become apparent in the betting odds of the past few days: With the tragic comedy “Coda” there was a surprise winner in the category “Best Film” at this year’s Oscars. A year ago, at the Sundance Festival, they wouldn’t even have had their film distributed, and now she’s standing here with an Oscar in her hands, beamed US director Heder in a backstage interview after the gala.
