California, USA (CU)_ Will Smith, an Academy Award winner, used his Oscars address to apologize to Chris Rock and the Academy. The actor slapped the presenter Chris Rock on the stage over a comment about his wife Jada Pinkett. Will did not only apologize to Chris, but also to the Academy and the fellow nominees. He shared an Instagram post last night where he apologized to Chris Rock, the Academy, which is reportedly considering disciplinary action against him, all audiences who attended and watched the Oscars, the Williams family, and the “King Richard family”.
Will Smith won Best Actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams, the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams. If Will Smith’s soulful Oscar acceptance speech failed to address the public assault he committed, his Instagram post made it quite clear. It read: “I would publicly like to apologize to you, Chris” and concluded it saying, “I am a work in progress.”
Will Smith marched up to Chris Rock and smacked him following the comedian’s inappropriate remark about Will’s wife Jada Pinkett’s hair, who battles hair loss condition called alopecia. The incident was captured on video during a live broadcast viewed by millions worldwide. Will Smith won Best Actor shortly thereafter and offered an emotional acceptance speech where he blamed his actions on love and apologized to the Academy and his fellow candidates.
This was rectified by Will Smith’s Instagram post that read, “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”. He added, “Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. 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.” Will Smith was incensed when Chris Rock made a GI Jane reference about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shorn head. Jada made her alopecia battle public some years ago.
The 53-year-old actor apologized once more to the Academy and to absolutely everyone else through an Instagram post that read: “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. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us.” Will Smith concluded his remarks by referring to himself as a “work in progress.”
Will Smith came back to his seat after slapping Chris Rock and shouted, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f*****g mouth!” Later, upon accepting the Best Actor award, Will Smith said with tears in his eyes, “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.” He also disclosed what fellow Best Actor contender Denzel Washington told to him during the previous commercial break: “Thank you Denzel, who said to me a few minutes ago… he said, ‘at your highest moment, be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you.'”
Will Smith remarked of the Academy and the Oscars, saying, “Hope they invite me back.” This may be in doubt at the moment. Following the event, the Academy issued a brief statement later that day stating that it condemns all forms of violence. Additionally, it is apparently convening to decide what course of action to be taken. In the meantime, the Los Angeles Police Department stated that Chris Rock has refused to file a police report.
Following the Oscars, Will Smith and his family posed for photographs in the press area. He subsequently went to the Vanity Fair after-party, where he was seen dancing and snapping selfies as if Slapgate had never occurred. Will Smith is a Hollywood A-lister star who has starred in blockbuster films such as Ali, The Pursuit of Happiness, the Men in Black series, and the Bad Boys. He was also featured in a successful television series known as The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air.
