Will Smith was asked to leave Sunday’s Academy Awards after slapping Chris Rock, but he refused. The revelation came in a new statement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science’s Board of Governors, who met on Monday and voted to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Smith. “Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television,” the statement reads. “Mr. Rock, we apologize to you for what you experienced on our stage and thank you for your resilience in that moment. We also apologize to our nominees, guests and viewers for what transpired during what should have been a celebratory event.” Advertisement Related Video “Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipate,” the statement continues. “While we woul...
While doing the press rounds in support of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Jim Carrey blasted the audience at the 2022 Academy Awards for giving Will Smith a standing ovation minutes after slapping Chris Rock. Carrey said he was “sickened” by the cheers when it was announced Smith won Best Actor for King Richard, and blasted Hollywood as a whole for being “spineless” about the incident. “I was sickened by the standing ovation,” the actor told Gayle King, after being asked to share his opinion on CBS Mornings. “I felt like Hollywood is just spineless en masse and it really felt like this is a really clear indication that we’re not the cool club anymore.” Carrey added that Smith “should’ve been” escorted out of the Oscars after slapping Rock and speculated that the comedian only declined to press char...
As if the Hollywood gods knew we were overdue for a scandal on live television, all of the regular expected awkwardness at the 2022 Academy Awards was eclipsed by Will Smith slapping Chris Rock across the face for the entire world to see, after the latter made a joke at Jada Pinkett Smith‘s expense. But a little violence didn’t stop the Academy from giving Smith the Best Actor Award for his role in King Richard, where he plays Richard Williams, father and coach of tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams. “Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family,” Smith said during his speech, holding back tears — almost as if to give Rock an ever-so-subtle fuck you. But being two comedy legends of the ’90s, Rock and Smith’s relationship goes way back, as both friends and on-screen collaborato...
Will Smith has issued a statement apologizing to Chris Rock for slapping him during Sunday night’s Oscars. “Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable,” wrote Smith in a statement posted to Instagram on Monday evening. “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. I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.” Prior to announcing the winner for documentary feature, Rock cracked a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair, prompti...