Wanda Sykes would have wanted the Academy to remove Will Smith from the Oscars.
Photo: Neilson Barnard/ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images
Wanda Syke was one of the three moderators of the Oscars 2022 that enlivened the gala, which was eventually overshadowed by the slap in the face Will Smith to the comedian Chris Rock. Days after the incident, Wanda gives her version of going through the bitter experience and says she would have wanted the Academy to disqualify Smith from the ceremony.
“I felt so sorry for my friend Chris,” Wanda said during an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. “It was disgusting. I was physically unwell and I’m still a bit traumatized by it. What [La Academia] will let him stay in this place and enjoy the rest of the show and accept his prize. I thought, ‘How gross is that?’ That’s just the wrong message“.
Wanda further added: “You attack someone, they escort you out of the building, and that’s it. But I found it disgusting that they let him continue. Also, I wanted to be able to run away after he won and be able to say, ‘Sorry, Will couldn’t be here tonight.“.
Wanda went on to say that after her performance on stage at the Oscars, Chris Rock apologized to her, saying, “Very sorry. It was his night. You, Amy and Regina did a great job. Excuse me now, I’ll do about it“.
The Academy later sent a statement showing Will Smith was asked to leave the premises after the attack, but the actor refused.
“Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and he refused, we also recognize that we could have handled the situation differently‘ the academy said in a statement.
On Monday, March 28, Smith posted an apology to Instagram following the altercation he had during the Hollywood gala.
“I want to apologize to you publicly, Chris. I crossed the line and I was wrong‘ the award-winning actor continued. “I feel ashamed and my actions don’t reflect the man I want to be. In this world of love and kindness there is no room for violence“.
Will Smith attacked Chris Rock after making a joke at the expense of Jada Pinkett-Smithwhich the actress did not like at all.
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