Shortly after Will Smith and Chris Rock’s confrontation during the 2022 Oscars, the Academy requested the departure of the King Richard star.
“Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television,” the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences wrote in a Wednesday, March 30, statement via the Associated Press. “Mr. Rock, we apologize to you for what you experienced on our stage and thank you for your resilience in that moment. We also apologize to our nominees, guests and viewers for what transpired during what should have been a celebratory event.”
The statement continued: “Things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated. While we would like to clarify that Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognize we could have handled the situation differently.”
The Saturday Night Live alum, 57, presented an award during the Sunday, March 27, ceremony after cracking a few jokes, including one where he quipped that Jada Pinkett Smith would be great in a G.I. Jane sequel due to her shaved head. (Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia.) The Maryland native, 50, rolled her eyes at her Madagascar costar before her husband, whom she wed in 1997, walked onstage and smacked Rock across the face.
“Keep my wife’s name out your f—king mouth,” the Men In Black actor, 53, yelled after returning to his seat.
Will Smith and Chris Rock. Shutterstock (2)
