Tyler Perry, Chris Rock and Will Smith Shutterstock (3)
Not everyone has made it back from this. Will SmithSlapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars – and their mutual friend Tyler PerryThis article sheds light on the importance of balancing friendship between men.
“There’s a difference between comforting and deescalating, that’s No. 1. And I left early to reach Chris to make sure he was okay. Being friends with both of them has been very difficult,” the 52-year-old director said during a Q&A Tribeca Film Festival, per reports.
Perry was in the audience as Smith, 53, hit Rock (57), after the comedian made an a. G.I. JaneJoke about the Bel-Air’s Fresh Prince alum’s wife, Jada pinkett SmithIn March, alopecia affected a person named.
“I was there, close up. I left early to check on Chris. It was clearly wrong. I made sure to tell Will. And I’ll tell you, when we walked over to him, he was devastated,” Perry recalled. “He couldn’t believe what happened. He couldn’t believe he did it. And I’m looking at this man in his eyes going, ‘What are you doing? This is your night.’”
Smith won the Oscar. King RichardMoments after the viral moment.
“And to get all the way to this moment, winning an Oscar, that was one of the crowning moments of his career that he wanted so desperately,” the Madea writer continued. “And to have something like that happen, I think he is very much in reflection of trying to figure out what happened. And trust me, as painful as it was for all of us in the room, it was as painful for Chris, who was a pure champion for the way he handled it.”
Perry added: “But I want you to understand that something happened that was extremely painful for [Will]As well. This is no excuse. He was totally wrong for what he did. But something triggered him — that is so out of everything he is.”
Smith made a public apology to Rock following the evening and was banned for 10 years from Academy and Oscar events. Pinkett Smith, on the other hand, spoke about the controversy in the June 1 episode. Red Table Talk.
“My deepest hope is that these two intelligent, capable men have an opportunity to heal, talk this out and reconcile,” the actress said. “The state of the world today, we need them both. We all need one another more than ever. … Until then, Will and I are continuing to do what we have done for the last 28 years, and that’s keep figuring out this thing called life together.”
