Viewers weren’t the only ones surprised when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards. The actor/rapper’s mom, Carolyn Smith, admitted she was also shocked to see her son act so out of character.
Will Smith walked on stage and slapped Chris Rock after he made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair
Will Smith is an acclaimed actor who’s been praised for his roles in films like Ali, The Pursuit of Happyness, and King Richard. But because most fans still remember him as the sweet and funny teen from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, seeing his harsh behavior on Oscars night came as quite a shock.
As expected, as the ceremony’s host, Rock made fun of Hollywood A-listers throughout the night. But when he made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair, things went south.
Rock told Pinkett Smith he couldn’t wait to see G. I. Jane 2. Will Smith laughed at first. But his wife — who publicly discussed her experiences with alopecia — looked obviously annoyed by the joke. Moments later, the three-time Oscar-nominated actor walked up on stage and slapped Rock.
At first, it seemed like Will Smith and Rock were acting out a skit. But when Will Smith sat down and began yelling at Rock, his anger toward the comedian became disturbingly apparent.
Will Smith’s mom was shocked to see him that way
Will Smith’s behavior was shocking to his fans and his family. In a recent interview, the actor’s mom revealed that the Oscars moment took her by surprise. And she noted how uncharacteristic it was of her son.
“He is a very even, people person,” Carolyn Smith told 6abc. “That’s the first time I’ve ever seen him go off. First time in his lifetime… I’ve never seen him do that.”
In a statement following the Oscars’ broadcast, Will Smith apologized to Rock and the Academy. He suggested the joke about Pinkett Smith’s medical condition was too much” for him to bear and caused him to react “emotionally.”
“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,” Will Smith wrote on Instagram. “I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”
Rock hasn’t shared his feelings on the moments publicly. But in a recent stand-up routine, the comedian suggested he would address it at some point in the future.
But Carolyn Smith is proud of Will Smith’s Oscar achievement
Will Smith’s physical and verbal assault on Rock was starkly juxtaposed to the Oscar win that followed. He won his very first Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Venus and Serena Williams’ father, Richard Williams, in King Richard.
Despite the shocking events of the night, Carolyn Smith admitted she was extremely proud of her son. And she noted how hard he’s worked to get where he is in his career.
“I know how he works, how hard he works,” she said in her chat with 6abc. “I’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting. When I heard the name, I was just, ‘Yes!’”
In the days following the Oscars ceremony, the Academy of Motion Arts and Pictures condemned Will Smith’s actions. The actor has since resigned from the Academy.
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