Hollywood bigwig Jeffrey Katzenberg has compared Will Smith’s Oscar slap to the violence of the Ukraine war in the clearest sign yet that the actor’s career may be over
- Former Disney Studios boss Jeffrey Katzenberg slammed at Will Smith’s Oscar slap
- In front of a crowd of 700 Tinseltown bigwigs, he compared it to the war in Ukraine
- An executive claimed the comments showed Smith’s acting career may be over
One of Hollywood’s most powerful men last night publicly chastised actor Will Smith for his infamous “Oscar batting,” sending the clearest signal yet that the disgraced superstar’s career may be over.
Jeffrey Katzenberg – former head of Walt Disney Studios and founder of DreamWorks Studios – said at the national tribute dinner at the Simon Wiesenthal Center in front of 700 Tinseltown heavyweights: “Unfortunately, everywhere we look, intolerance continues to rise.
“We see it vividly, whether it be far away on the battlefields of Ukraine or right here in Hollywood on the stage at the Dolby Theater (home of the Oscars).”
Men In Black star Smith stormed onto the stage at the Dolby during last month’s Oscars and punched Chris Rock after the comedian joked about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair.
An enraged Smith yelled, “Keep my wife’s name out of your damn mouth”. Later it turned out that Jada suffers from alopecia.
Smith, who won the Best Actor Oscar for King Richard shortly after his outburst, was later banned from the Oscars for ten years and several of his film projects have been postponed or canceled with his career on the line.
Last night an executive from a major Hollywood studio told MailOnline: “Jeffrey Katzenberg is one of the most powerful and respected men in Hollywood. It is a big deal for him to publicly condemn Will Smith at such a prestigious event. It means Hollywood isn’t ready to forgive or forget. It definitely sends the signal that Smith’s career is on life support.’
Men In Black star Smith stormed onto the stage at the Dolby during last month’s Oscars and punched Chris Rock after the comedian joked about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair
Jeffrey Katzenberg — former head of Walt Disney Studios and founder of DreamWorks Studios — condemned the slap at the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s national tribute dinner
A smiling Smith was photographed in India last weekend, where he is said to be staying at an ashram run by a spiritual guru who teaches “self-transformation”.
Thursday night’s gala — the first major Hollywood event since the Oscars — was attended by a slew of stars, including James Corden, Will.i.Am, LL Cool J and Maroon 5’s Adam Levine, and virtually every studio executive in Hollywood.
Named after the famous Nazi hunter, the Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the most respected and renowned human rights organizations in the world. The event’s co-chairs included Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, producers Jerry Bruckheimer (Pirates of the Caribbean) and Ron Howard (The Da Vinci Code), and JJ Abrams (who directed the last three Star Wars films). ).
A source said: “The Wiesenthal event is attended by those who hold the power in Hollywood; Studio bosses, producers, all the big agents. The feeling in the room was very strong that Smith’s career will not recover.
The gala raised $3.7 million for the Museum of Tolerance, which commemorates victims of the Holocaust.
President Zelensky of Ukraine was awarded the Center’s Medal of Freedom.
Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, received the organization’s top honor, the Humanitarian Award.
Late night talk show host James Corden, who was master of ceremonies, joked about his choice to host the event, saying: “Obviously it makes sense that I’m here because it’s almost impossible to find a Jewish comedian in Hollywood . Of course I was approached by one of the most prominent Jewish organizations in the world, a renegade Protestant from High Wycombe.’
Eddy Cue and Jeffrey Katzenberg attend the 2022 National Tribute Dinner at the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance
Speaking in front of 700 Tinseltown heavyweights, Katzenberg said: “Unfortunately, no matter where we look, intolerance continues to rise
He also took a jibe on Smith, saying: “Everyone is so happy we can meet again in person – except maybe Chris Rock.”
Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder and CEO of the Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC), said that if Wiesenthal, who survived concentration camps and dedicated his life to persecuting Nazis, were alive today (he died in 2005), “he would be shocked that England , The country that led the charge against Hitler has just released findings that at least three anti-Semitic crimes are committed in the country every day, forcing Jewish-owned bakeries and restaurants to close their shops on Holocaust Memorial Day for fear to be attacked.
As Winston Churchill reminded us, “Strength is given to us when we are needed to serve great causes. This is such a time. Let’s act!’