LOS ANGELES – Will Smith apologized to Chris Rock on Monday for beating the comedian at Sunday night’s Academy Awards.
Smith said in a post on Instagram his behavior at the televised ceremony was “unacceptable and inexcusable.”
“I want to publicly apologize to you Chris,” Smith wrote. “I was out of line and I was wrong.”
Smith strode onto the stage and slapped Rock in the face after the comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife showing up. Less than an hour later, Smith won Best Actor for his role as the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams in King Richard.
Rock had referenced the 1997 film GI Jane, in which actress Demi Moore shaved her head, in a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith. It was unclear if Rock knew Smith’s wife had a condition that causes hair loss.
“Jokes at my expense are part of the job,” Smith said Monday, “but a joke about Jada’s health was too much for me and I reacted emotionally.”
“I’m embarrassed and my actions were no indication of the man I want to be,” he added.
Earlier Monday, the 9,900-member Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences condemned Smith’s actions and said it would look into the matter.
“We have officially begun a formal review of the incident and will consider further actions and consequences consistent with our bylaws, standards of conduct and California law,” the academy added.
The group’s policy of conduct states that it “rejects any form of abuse, harassment or discrimination” and expects members to uphold the values of “respect for human dignity, inclusion and a supportive environment that fosters creativity.”
Violations may result in suspension or expulsion from the organization, revocation of Oscars, or ineligibility for future awards, as per policy.
SAG-AFTRA, the union representing actors, called Smith’s actions “unacceptable” and said it has been in contact with the Academy and broadcaster ABC “to ensure this behavior is appropriately addressed.”
Will Smith (R) meets Chris Rock as Rock spoke onstage during the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States on March 27, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
It is rare but not unprecedented for the film academy to revoke membership. Producer Harvey Weinstein was expelled in 2017 after more than three dozen women accused him of sexual assault.
In his statement, Smith also apologized to the Academy, the show’s producers, the contestants, the viewers, the Williams family and “my King Richard family.”
Studio executives were publicly silent about Smith on Monday. The 53-year-old actor has projects in the works with Netflix Inc (NFLX.O), Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) and Apple TV+ (AAPL.O). The companies did not respond to requests for comment. Continue reading
As one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, Smith has anchored lucrative film franchises like Independence Day and Men in Black. According to researcher Comscore, his films have grossed more than $9 billion at the global box office.
Oscars producers had been hoping for a memorable Sunday night to recover from record low ratings during the COVID-19 pandemic. They brought in three hosts, opened the show with Beyonce, and cut some acceptance speeches short.
But it was Smith’s outburst that went viral, with images and videos bouncing off social media.
TV viewership rose sharply this year to an average of 15.36 million people, a 56% increase from 2021, according to preliminary estimates.
Feel-good movie CODA won Best Picture and marked a turning point in Hollywood as the film was streamed from Apple TV+ (AAPL.O) rather than debuting exclusively in theaters.
Many Hollywood celebrities denounced Smith’s actions. Continue reading
“Will Smith owes Chris Rock a huge apology. There is no excuse for what he did,” filmmaker Rob Reiner said on Twitter.
Others supported Smith in defending his wife.
“That’s what you want your husband to do, isn’t it? They protect,” comedian Tiffany Haddish told People magazine.
Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Additional reporting by Daniel Trotta and Dawn Chmielewski; Edited by Jonathan Oatis, Marguerita Choy and Sandra Maler