After the incident at the 94th Academy Awards where actor Will Smith went on stage and slapped comedian and Academy Awards presenter Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, the internet has not sat still.
Chris Rock said, “Jada, I love you. ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it,” which alluded to and made fun of Jada’s shaved head. Will Smith took it upon himself to make yet another apology regarding the violent act.
At the 94th Academy Awards, Will Smith was nominated for ‘Best Actor’ and would be receiving his award just minutes before the incident. Upon winning the nomination for his first Oscar, he gave a public apology to the audience in his acceptance speech for his violent reaction, yet the apology was not directed towards Chris Rock.
“I want to apologise to the Academy. I want to apologise to all my fellow nominees,” Will said.
After the live awards ceremony and once he had cooled off a bit from the incident, Will Smith took it to his personal Instagram to give another more heartfelt apology in which he apologised to Rock this time.
In the Instagram post, he said, “Violence in all its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behaviour at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable.”
The joke hit a sensitive spot for Will since his wife Jada has been suffering with alopecia, a medically diagnosed autoimmune skin disease consisting of controllable hair loss, for over three years and it has personally affected the entire Smith family.
“A joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.”
Via Instagram @imaginarymagazine
What did the Academy have to say about the Will Smith x Chris Rock incident?
The Academy Awards has bylaws that condemn any and all forms of violence, about which they posted a statement disagreeing with the incident that same night, stating that Will Smith’s actions could not simply be overlooked.
On Monday, the film academy made another statement on the violent incident and the actions they are taking in regard to it.
“The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night’s show. We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences.”
Via Instagram @papiofpop
Chris Rock decided not to press charges against the ‘Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ star, so there will be no further investigation or legal actions by the State of California according to the Los Angeles Police Department, yet there will be consequences and disciplinary actions placed upon Will by the Academy Awards council, according to its members.
Via Instagram @gettyimages