LOS ANGELES — Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Academy Awards Sunday after the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith while presenting the award for documentary feature.
The “King Richard” star unexpectedly rushed the stage and struck Rock after the comic made a quip about Smith’s wife and the 1997 film “G.I. Jane” — apparently making a connection to actor Pinkett Smith’s bald hairstyle.
Pinkett Smith — who has been open about her struggles with hair loss due to a condition called alopecia — did not laugh at Rock’s remark.
“Will Smith just smacked the s— out of me,” a stunned Rock said after Smith rose from his seat to strike him.
“Keep my wife’s name out your f— mouth!” Smith shouted at Rock after returning to the audience, which was bleeped during the broadcast in the U.S.
“Wow, dude,” Rock said. “It was a ‘G.I. Jane’ joke.”
“Keep my wife’s name out your f— mouth,” Smith repeated.
“I’m going to, OK?” Rock said.
According to a tweet from Variety Executive Editor Ramin Setoodeh, what unfolded between Rock and Smith was not planned and did not happen in rehearsals the day prior. Setoodeh also reported that Smith’s publicist spoke with him during commercial breaks — as did Oscars producer Will Packer.
Shortly after hitting Rock, Smith won the lead actor prize for his performance in “King Richard.” In the sports drama, Smith played the titular father of tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams.
Through tears, Smith apologized to the academy and his fellow nominees — but not to Rock — while accepting his award.
“I want to be a vessel for love,” Smith said. “I want to be an ambassador of that kind of love and care and concern. I want to apologize to the academy.
“I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees. … Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said … about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things. … Thank you. I hope the academy invites me back.”
Before taking the stage to receive his Oscar, Smith embraced Pinkett Smith. He also mentioned during his speech that fellow lead actor nominee Denzel Washington told him “a few minutes ago ... ‘At your highest moment, be careful. That’s when the devil comes for you.’”
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