While Hollywood is still reeling from Will Smith slapping Chris Rock live at the Oscars, Entourage creator Doug Ellin is weighing the controversy.
The 53-year-old writer-producer opened up about the controversy to TMZ, where he didn’t pull punches and called Smith a “classic narcissist.”
He added that he didn’t think Oscar host Chris Rock knew Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, had the autoimmune disease alopecia that caused her to lose her hair.
Speaking of which, while Hollywood is still processing Will Smith beating Chris Rock live at the Oscars, Entourage creator Doug Ellin is weighing the controversy
Narcissist: The 53-year-old writer-producer opened up about the controversy to TMZ, where he didn’t pull punches and called Smith a “classic narcissist.”
Ellin made it clear that he didn’t think Chris Rock did anything wrong, adding, “Chris Rock just did his job, whether you liked his joke or not.”
He also admitted he thought it was “fake” at first, adding: “I’m watching this thing, I don’t know what the hell is happening, the audio goes off and I think something very strange is happening.
The writer-director added that he’s “trying to be careful in 2022 because mental health is a real thing,” adding that Smith “needs help.”
Nothing wrong: Ellin made it clear he didn’t think Chris Rock did anything wrong, adding, “Chris Rock just did his job, whether you liked his joke or not.”
Help: The writer-director added that he’s “trying to be careful in 2022 because mental health is a real thing,” adding that Smith “needs help.”
“When you get so out of hand on the biggest night of your career at the Oscars, something is wrong,” Ellin added.
He also admitted he didn’t know Jada Pinkett Smith suffered from alopecia and he believes Chris Rock didn’t know either.
“Chris Rock is one of the greatest comedians of the last 100 years and this show is the Oscars that celebrates artistic expression … and you basically have Will Smith trying to cancel him live,” Ellin said.
Out of Control: “When you get so out of control on the biggest night of your career at the Oscars, something is wrong,” added Ellin
Didn’t Know: He also admitted he didn’t know Jada Pinkett Smith suffered from alopecia, and he believes Chris Rock didn’t know either
He added that Smith is 6ft 3in and had combat training for his role in Ali and “he beats little 60-year-old Chris Rock,” although Rock’s actual age is 57.
Ellin also noted that Rock “wasn’t moving, by the way,” adding that he was “a little shocked that Will Smith didn’t move him a little further back.”
He also called The Academy and said he found it “horrible” that they were “sitting there” doing nothing, and minutes later “gave him a standing ovation … the whole thing is appalling to me.”
Training: He added that Smith is 6’3″ and has combat training for his role in Ali and “he beats little 60-year-old Chris Rock,” although Rock’s actual age is 57
Shocked: Ellin also mentioned that Rock “didn’t move, by the way”, adding that he was “a little shocked that Will Smith didn’t put him a little further back”.
When asked why Smith “got the pass,” Ellin said it was “a foregone conclusion that he wins the Oscar” for his performance in King Richard, for which he had already won the Screen Actors Guild Golden Globe, BAFTA and other awards for.
“I don’t condone behavior, but I think they were so stunned by what happened that nobody knew what the hell to do,” Ellin said.
He added that if someone less famous hit someone on live TV, like “a cameraman or a makeup artist, they would have arrested him or taken him away from there immediately.”
Bottom line: When asked why Smith “got the pass,” Ellin said it was “a foregone conclusion that he wins the Oscar” for his performance in King Richard, for which he already won the Golden Globe, Screen had Actors Guild, BAFTA and other awards for
Stunned: “I don’t condone behavior but I think they were so stunned by what happened that nobody knew what the hell to do,” Ellin said
Just minutes after the slap, Smith actually won the best actor award for King Richard as he struggled through an awkward acceptance speech.
‘I think his speech was even worse. The speech was worse than the slap, that gaslight bull**t about, “I’m a protector of people and a lover of people.” Chris Rock was standing there with his hands behind his back and a guy twice his size like him, smacks him in the face at the Oscars,” Ellin added.
The slap came just before Rock presented the Best Documentary Award, which Questlove won for his critically acclaimed film Summer of Soul, with Ellin mentioning it was “tragic” that his amazing speech was largely forgotten.
Awkward: Just minutes after the slap, Smith actually won the best actor award for King Richard as he struggled through an awkward acceptance speech
Tragic: The slap came just before Rock presented the Best Documentary award, which Questlove won for his critically acclaimed film Summer of Soul, with Ellin mentioning it was “tragic” that his amazing speech was largely forgotten
“Questlove gave this amazing speech about a film that is so much more important than King Richard. That movie, Summer of Soul, is a really important documentary and Questlove gave a great speech that no one was listening to,” said Ellin.
He also mentioned CODA star Troy Kotsur, who became only the second deaf actor to win an Oscar, adding, “No one thinks of that.”
“I think it’s really said and it’s a classic narcissist who made the whole event about themselves and not anyone,” Ellin concluded.
Narcissist: “I think it’s really said and it’s a classic narcissist who made the whole event about himself and not anyone else,” Ellin concluded.