Smith hit Chris Rock on the Oscars stage with what felt like a slap or punch. Shortly thereafter, the actor was awarded the Best Actor statuette for King Richard. On stage he apologized: Love makes people do crazy things
First the blow on the face of Chris Rock, then the Oscar winner, finally the apology to the Academy and the tears. Will Smith, 53, won the Best Actor statuette for his portrayal of him in King Richard – A winning family
. A few minutes before the awards ceremony, Smith had been the protagonist of an onstage altercation with the comedian Chris Rockone of the presenters of the evening.
As Rock introduced the documentary award, he made a comment about the hair of Jada Pinkett Smith, Smith’s wife, who suffers from alopecia. Jade, GI Jade, look forward to the sequel to Private Jane, huh, Rock said, laughing making a pun between the woman’s name, the well-known Demi Moore movie and the action movie series. G.I. Joe.
At first it seemed that the actor was not offended, but then, visibly annoyed, he got up, joined the comedian on stage and hit him in the face. Then returned to his place. Between the two there was then a remote exchange. It was just a joke, Rock said. Get my wife out of that f ****** mouth, Smith yelled at him.
A few minutes later, the announcement: Smith won the Oscar for Best Actor for playing Richard Williams, father of two tennis champions Serena and Venus Williams, in the film directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green. This is his first statuettebut in the past he had already been nominated for Al (2001) e The pursuit of happiness (2006). This year, the other actors in contention for the award were Javier Bardem (Being the Ricardos), Benedict Cumberbatch (The power of the dog), Andrew Garfield (tick, tick…Boom!) e Denzel Washington (Macbeth).
During his thank you speech for the Oscar, the actor, in tears, has apologized to the Academy and to all colleagues present at the ceremony, explaining that love makes people crazy. Richard Williams – said Smith remembering the father of the sisters Venus and Serena Williams, to whom the film is dedicated King Richard – was a staunch defender of his family.
At this time in my life I am overwhelmed by what God is asking me to do on this earth. I have been called in my life to love people, protect people and be a river for my people. I had to protect Jade who is one of the strongest and most delicate women I have ever met. I want to be an ambassador for this kind of love, care, attention, the actor said. A speech, the of him, halfway between a request for an apology and a self-justification.
In the evening, the LAPD made it known that they were aware of the incident but did not take action on it, given that, for the moment, Rock has not filed a complaint. If, in the future, the people involved would like an investigative report on the episode, we would be available to make it, reads a note from the police cited by Reuters. The Academy, through its official Twitter accountmakes it known that it does not tolerate violence in any form. While Gabriele Muccino, who had worked with the actor, wrote: He ruined the most important evening in his life. But the controversy seems inevitable: Smith was not turned away after attacking Rock, rather he was allowed to go on stage and collect the award. A decision that, according to some, in fact amounts to a sort of amnesty, by the Academy, of his violent gesture.
March 28, 2022 (change March 29, 2022 | 15:21)
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