After his now-viral Oscars slap Will SmithTo discuss the next steps, I met up with members of Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Us Weekly confirms that the Academy “has talked to all parties involved,” including Smith, 53, and Chris Rock. “Will was told that his actions would have consequences,” a source says, adding that the Bel-Air’s Fresh Prince alum “apologized again” to the organization over Zoom. (Reps didn’t immediately respond to our request for comment.
The WillAuthor stormed the Dolby Theatre’s stage during the awards ceremony, Sunday, March 27, in defense of his wife Jada pinkett Smith, who was the subject of Rock’s joke about a G.I. Jane sequel. The Red Table Talk host, 50, has lost hair due to alopecia, and her husband later told his Instagram followers that he “reacted emotionally” to the quip.
Will Smith Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable,” the King RichardRock offered a public apology in a statement that actor made on Monday, March 28. “I was out of line and I was wrong. I am ashamed of my actions and they are not indicative of the man that I want to become. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”
Multiple sources later confirmed the information. UseSmith has not spoken to Rock privately about the incident. The comedian went on to tell fans during a stand-up gig in Boston on Wednesday, March 30, that he hasn’t “talked to anyone,” despite reports otherwise.
The same show also featured the Grown Ups actor said that he was “still processing” what went down during the Oscars telecast, but he hasn’t addressed the altercation at length. Producer Will PackerDuring an interview, he spoke out about the situation and broke his silence. Good Morning America, defending Smith’s best actor win — and the standing ovation he received.
“It doesn’t make anything that he did right and doesn’t excuse that behavior at all,” the 47-year-old said on Friday, April 1. “But I think that the people in that room who stood up [were standing]For someone they knew, who was a friend, a peer, or a brother, who has had a career of more than three decades of being the exact opposite of what we saw in that moment. These people saw the person they knew and hoped that this was an aberration. That Chris comes back and says, ‘Ha, we got you all.’”
Packer continued, “I don’t think that these were people that were applauding anything at all about that moment. And all these people saw their friend at his absolute worst moment and were hoping that they could encourage him and lift him up, and that he would somehow try to make it better.”
As the incident continues to make headlines, the Academy launched a “formal review” of the events that occurred, claiming in a statement on Wednesday that Smith “refused” to leave despite being asked.
“Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television,” the statement noted. “Mr. “Mr. We also apologize for what happened during what should have been an event of celebration. Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated.”
