Will Smith caused a stir
Oscar scandal: Actor Will Smith ran onto the stage in a rage and slapped co-star Chris Rock because he had made a joke about Smith’s wife. Smith then returned to his seat and scolded Rock. Shortly thereafter, Smith won the Best Actor award for his role in the tennis drama King Richard. During his emotional acceptance speech, he cried.
Without addressing the incident directly, he apologized to the US Film Academy and the other nominees – but not to Chris Rock. He received a standing ovation from the gala guests.
Comedian Rock, known for his sharp-tongued jokes, addressed Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, in an intro, joking over her shaved head: “GI Jane 2 – can’t wait to see it.” – a reference to the movie “GI Jane”, in which Demi Moore shaved her head as a soldier. Jada Pinkett Smith had spoken out several times in the past about her pathological hair loss, called alopecia.
At first, Will Smith laughed at this as his wife grimaced. Then he got up from his chair and went to the stage. After the slap, Smith yelled in Rock’s direction from his seat, “Keep my wife’s name out of your mouth!” – he twice used the word “fucking”, which was frowned upon on US television, which was muffled with a beep on US broadcast.
Rock looked a little surprised after the incident, but quickly recovered and joked, “It was the biggest night in television history.” After the show ended, US broadcaster ABC released a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department that said it was aware of an incident at the awards ceremony in which one person slapped another. The wholesaler refused to report the incident.
Immediately after the incident, many fans on social media and also observers in the American media wondered if it was an actual outburst of anger from Will Smith or a prearranged scene. Smith’s acceptance speech, however, suggested that he actually lost his temper briefly.
“You have to protect your family,” he said – just as his character Richard Williams did with his daughters Venus and Serena. Art sometimes imitates life, he added with a smile as tears streamed down his face. “I look like the crazy dad” – something Richard Williams has also been accused of. He wants to be an ambassador of love and care. “I apologize to the Academy and my fellow nominees.” He hopes to be invited again.