The slap by Will Smith, 2022 Academy award winning actor, has now created a disturbance among celebrities in America. At the moment, Smith has resigned from the Oscars Academy while directly apologizing to Chris Rock, the presenter of the Academy Awards ceremony whom Smith slapped. He spoke out about the drama via Instagram, noting that “violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive” on Monday, March 28, a day after the incident.
Smith’s weeping
“My behaviour at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable,” Will Smith wrote. “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. I would also like to apologize to The Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family.”
He concluded: “I deeply regret that my behaviour has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress.”
However, the celebrities seem to upset over Smith’s behaviour. Following are some of their comments on the incident, which were published on US Magazine on March 29, 2022:
A bad example for America - Bethenny Frankel
Bethenny Frankel is an American television personality, entrepreneur, philanthropist and the Real Housewives of New York City alum, she said on March 29, episode of her “Just B” podcast:
“You have a presenter that’s working for you at The Academy. … They are working for you. They touch somebody, they punch somebody, they slap somebody. You have the person removed. You give them their award separately. It’s not like, ‘Oh, hey, I know you just smacked somebody presenting, but now we’re going to give you an award.’”
Frankel continued: “It’s awkward at best. I did not see the whole show. But from what I understand, that’s what happened. I can’t overstate the fact that you just can’t touch another person. It’s a bad example for your kids. It’s a bad example for America.”
It’s not ok - Tim Allen
Tim Allen, an American actor and comedian, tweeted: “It’s not ok to come up on stage and hit a dude cause you don’t like the humor. It’s not ok at a Comedy Club, concert hall or hosting some cheeseball award show.
Chris Rock is a stand up comedian and a standup guy who carried on. I think I would have run.”
Violent physical assault - Mark Hamill
The Star Wars actor Mark Hamill tweeted a photo of the smackdown, writing, “Stand-up comics are very adept at handling hecklers. Violent physical assault... not so much. #UgliestOscarMoment_Ever.”
Laugh hurts way more than a punch - Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert, an American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor and television host said: “Let me say something as an objective observer: It’s never OK to punch a comedian. Will Smith was offended by the joke and wanted to stand up for his wife. Fine. Challenge Chris to a duel or, if you really want to hurt a comedian, don’t laugh. That hurts way more than a punch, I promise you.”
An unbelievable live performance - Seth Meyers
The former Saturday Night Live cast member Seth Meyers joked that “the last thing” he’d expect at the Academy Awards “was a display of narcissism,” adding, “The 94th Academy Awards were held last night and featured the first live performance of ‘We Don’t Talk About Bruno,’ from the Disney musical Encanto, followed by an unbelievable live performance of ‘We Don’t Talk About Jada.’”
I just sat down - Serena Williams
“I just sat down ’cause I was like, ‘I gotta put that drink down,’” the tennis star — whose father, Richard Williams, was depicted by Smith in King Richard — said via a since-deleted Instagram Story.
Will was immature - Sunny Hostin
“I think Will was immature, I think he was childish and he was violent,” said Sunny Hostin, American lawyer, journalist, and television host.
“There will be consequences I’m sure, but I don’t think that’s what they’re going to do, particularly because Chris said ‘Listen, I’m not pressing any charges,’” she said.
Slap and remark are “not equivalent” - Ana Navarro
Ana Navarro, Nicaraguan-American political strategist and commentator, didn’t mince words. “Hitting somebody is a crime, a crime of assault.” While she called Rock’s quip “a lame joke, a joke in very poor taste,” she believes the slap and the remark were “not equivalent.”
A very bad practice - Kathy Griffin
“Let me tell you something, it’s a very bad practice to walk up on stage and physically assault a comedian,” the comedian Kathy Griffin tweeted. “Now we all have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theatres.”
It cut me really deep - Liam Payne
“I believe whatever he felt that he did, he had the right to do,” the ‘Strip That Down’ singer Liam Payne told Good Morning Britain while noting, “I also felt like there were three losers in one fight.”
He added, “It’s a very sad thing but there was a powerful moment for me, to sit and watch one of the world’s best emoters speak from the heart and I would rather take away the beauty from the situation than take the pain … but I had to leave my chair I’ll be honest with you, it cut me really deep.”
A sign of great mental illness - Howard Stern
“This is a sign of great mental illness when you can’t control your impulse,” said Howard Stern, an American radio and television personality, comedian, and author: “Not only that, it was hardly an insulting joke. It was not even a good joke. The joke, quite frankly, was beneath Chris Rock. It was a throwaway.”
I wish my husb wld have stood up 4 me - Tiffany Haddish
“I think Chris was messy. As a woman who had a husb, I wish my husb wld have stood up 4 me the way (Will) stood up for (Jada),” the Girls’ Trip star Tiffany Haddish told the Los Angeles Times. “That’s what every woman wants, right? She was hurt. And he protected his wife. And that’s what a man is supposed to do.”
Assault is never the answer - Sophia Bush
“Violence isn’t ok. Assault is never the answer,” an American actress, activist, director and producer Sophia Bush shared on Twitter. “Also? This is the second time that Chris has made fun of Jada on the #Oscars stage, & tonight he went after her alopecia. Punching down at someone’s auto-immune disease is wrong. Doing so on purpose is cruel. They both need a breather.”