Will Smith Chris Rock

My behavior at last night's Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada's medical ...

"I want to apologize to the Academy," Smith said. Actress Whoopi Goldberg, who serves on the Academy's Board of Governors, said Monday, "There will be consequences, I'm sure," but also stated they would not strip Smith of his award. "I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees. "I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong," Smith wrote. After returning to his seat, Smith yelled at Rock to "keep my wife's name out of you're f***ing mouth." "I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us," Smith wrote.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith at the 'Vanity Fair' Oscar party during the 94th Academy Awards in Beverly Hills, California on March 27 2022.

It is especially troubling that he invokes the idea of love as an explanation for what he did. Add to that the fact that he is very good-looking, and likeable generally, and we are even more prone to giving him a discount for his violence. When he takes a confident stride towards Rock, it is all about him, in fact, and the performance of the alpha male role. It is again men who are centred in the discourse. The fact that he cried during his acceptance speech later will tempt many of us to treat him with kid gloves because a vulnerable-looking man who apologises is such a rare sight. Comedy has gone unexamined, the world over, for far too long, and invariably the victims are the usual categories of people who are used to oppression, from black people generally to black women in particular. The joke was tinged with some awkwardness because we did not know how far he would go in his story about the deaf guy, and our penchant for dark humour might secretly have made us hope the comedian would get even more edgy, but Noah found the perfect balance between intelligent social commentary and sheer hilarious storytelling that could not be considered safe nor politically correct. We don’t only live in a world where we still often judge people by the colour of their skin but also by what is on their head, as ridiculous as it is. That is the tragedy of how little progress we are making in smashing patriarchy. It was a brilliant meta comment on the fear of comedians to offend people they regard as vulnerable, but in the process being exclusionary and implying that people with disabilities lack a sense of humour. Firstly, Rock’s joke was at the cost of a black woman who has openly shared her experience of a condition that leads to hair loss. We should push back against straw person responses when it comes to analysis of speech acts that are indecent.

After Will Smith issues a public apology over slapping Chris Rock, here's what happened at the Oscars 2022, what Chris Rock said about Jada Pinkett Smith to ...

He added: “This story is the search for joy and hope in the fact of violence and loss. Kotsur dedicated his award to the “the deaf community, the Coda community and the disabled community”. Collecting the award, he said: “This is an enormous honour for my family and a great tribute to an amazing city and fantastic people.” He continued: “We miss them, we love them and we will never forget them and we we will never forget all of those lost in the heartbreaking, heart-warming human story of that amazing city of Belfast on the fabulous island of Ireland. After paying tribute to his mother and his family he added: “Thank you for this honour, thank you for this moment…I hope the Academy invites me back.” “This is a beautiful moment and I’m not crying for winning an award, it’s not about winning an award for me, it’s about being able to shine a light on all of the people.” He called his behaviour at the Academy Awards “unacceptable and inexcusable” and said he was embarrassed by his actions. He added: “I want to apologise to the Academy, I want to apologise to all my fellow nominees. “I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. He added: “I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people. “In this time in my life, in this moment, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling me to do and be in this world.” “I was in the shower one day and had just handfuls of hair in my hands and I was just like, oh my god, am I going bald?”

Following Will Smith's apology to Chris Rock for slapping him on stage at the Oscars, and organisers of the awards announcing a formal review, Jada Pinkett ...

"I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us," Smith concluded. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada's medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally. Smith, 53, appeared to initially laugh at the comment, but Pinkett Smith, 50, who was sitting next to him, rolled her eyes and looked unimpressed. My behavior at last night's Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. That insult is going to last a very long time."

Actor says attacking the comedian was 'out of line' and calls violence of all kinds 'poisonous and destructive'

“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. For the first time, a streaming service, Apple TV+, took Hollywood’s top honor, signalling a profound shift in Hollywood and in moviegoing. Smith strode on stage and slapped Rock across the face. Smith was honored for his role as Richard Williams, father of Venus and Serena. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally. Smith apologized to the Academy during his best actor acceptance speech, which notably didn’t include an apology to Rock.

"Keep my wife's name out of your f--king mouth,” Will Smith shouted at comedian Chris Rock, and the crowd hushed as it became clear this was no act.

Following the ceremony, Smith seemed no worse for wear as he celebrated with family and friends at the Vanity Fair Oscar party. “Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family,” Smith said in his first remarks. If the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report.” I look like the crazy father,” Smith said. “We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore future action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law.” Smith, 53, walked onto the stage from his front-row seat and took a swing at Rock with an open palm, generating a loud smack.