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Scandal at the Oscar gala: Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage. Now the Hollywood star is taking the consequences.
Will Smith (right) swings a punch at Chris Rock during the Oscars. (March 27, 2022)
REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Rock previously made a joke about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett.
AFP/Angela Weiss
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Will Smith (53) slapped Chris Rock (57) on the Oscar stage.
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The comedian previously made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett.
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The Hollywood actor is now leaving the Oscar Academy.
After his slap in the face at the Oscar gala, Hollywood star Will Smith resigns from the Oscar academy. “I am resigning from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and will accept any further consequences that the board deems appropriate,” the US actor wrote in a statement published by the industry publication “Variety” on Friday.
Comedian Chris Rock joked onstage at the Oscars about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, losing her hair due to an illness. Her husband then came on stage and hit Rock in the face. Half an hour later, Smith received the Oscar for best actor for his role in «King Richard».
“Shocking, painful and inexcusable”
The Oscar Academy had condemned Smith’s assault and launched an internal investigation. As a consequence, Smith’s membership in the influential Academy was threatened with suspension or termination.
Smith called his behavior “shocking, painful and inexcusable” in his statement. “The list of those I have hurt is long and it includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all the participants and viewers at home around the world.”
Smith apologized to Rock
“I have betrayed the Academy’s trust,” Smith said in a statement released to Variety. “I took the opportunity for other nominees and winners to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am devastated.”
Smith tearfully apologized to the organizers of the event and the other nominees for the slap in his acceptance speech for his Oscar award, but not to Rock. He caught up on this the following day via Instagram. Smith said his behavior was “unacceptable and inexcusable.”
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(AFP)