People he can trust. Will SmithAfter slapping, is it facing backlash Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, but he’s been building these friendships for years.
Denzel WashingtonSmith was immediately consoled after the incident Ali star slapped Rock for making a quip about Jada pinkett Smith‘s hair loss a the awards show on March 27. (She has alopecia. Smith marched up the stage and smacked them. Everyone Hates Chris star. “Keep my wife’s name out your f—king mouth,” the actor yelled after returning to his seat.
Washington was among the first people to speak with Smith following the incident. Later that night, the scandal-ridden star even mentioned the legendary star in his Best Actor acceptance speech.
“I know to do what we do, you gotta be able to take abuse, and you gotta be able to have people talk crazy about you,” Smith said while accepting the Oscar for his role in King Richard. “In this business, you gotta be able to have people disrespecting you and you gotta smile and you gotta pretend like that‘s OK.”
He continued, “Denzel said to me a few minutes ago, he said, ‘At your highest moment, be careful. That’s when the devil comes for you.’ It’s, like, I want to be a vessel for love.”
On April 2, Washington addressed the controversy at the T.D. conference. Jakes Leadership Summit. “There’s a saying when the devil ignores you, then you know you’re doing something wrong,” the Macbeth’s Tragic EndActor said. “The devil goes, ‘Oh no leave him alone, he’s my favorite.’ Conversely, when the devil comes at you, maybe it’s because he’s trying to do something right. And for whatever reason, the devil got a hold of him that night.”
Washington added that he couldn’t ignore what had just taken place. “No way I could have sat in my seat,” he explained. “That’s just not who I am. … Fortunately, there were people there, not just me but others, [like] Tyler Perry, came immediately right over there with me.”
Perry has a long history of working with Smith. The Men in BlackActor brought him along to his international press tour. Seven PoundsIn 2008 to show him how he can sell a film abroad. When the MadeaTyler Perry Studios was established a decade later by his creator. The 330-acre Atlanta studio’s soundstage was named in Smith’s honor.
Scroll down for a look inside Smith’s inner circle:
