Jim Carrey 'Sickened' by Standing Ovation for Will Smith: 'Hollywood Is Just Spineless'

Jim Carrey is sharing his disappointment in Hollywood and the Academy after Sunday night's altercation between Will Smith and Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. Smith walked onstage and slapped the comedian after Rock made a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith's, hair.

Carrey was a guest on CBS Mornings, where he addressed the incident, telling Gayle King that he was "sickened" by Smith's actions and what occurred afterward.

"I was sickened," Carrey said. "I was sickened by the standing ovation. Hollywood is just spineless en masse and it really felt like this is a really clear indication that we aren’t the cool club anymore."

Carrey went on to say that he thinks Smith should've been escorted out of the Dolby Theatre following the incident, and though Rock declined to press charges, Carrey suggested that it was only because the comedian "didn’t want the hassle."

"I’d have announced this morning that I was suing Will for $200 million because that video is going to be there forever, it’s going to be ubiquitous," Carrey continued. "That insult is gonna last a very long time. If you want to yell from the audience and show disapproval or say something on Twitter [that’s fine]. But you do not have the right to walk up onstage and smack somebody in the face because they said words."

The 60-year-old actor and funnyman also noted that he has nothing against Smith, adding that "he's done great things, but that was not a good moment."

"[The slap] came out of nowhere because Will has something going on inside him that’s frustrated. I wish him the best. I have nothing against Will Smith," he maintained. "He’s done great things, but that was not a good moment. It cast a shadow over everyone’s shining moment last night…It was a selfish moment."

Saturday Night Live comedian Michael Che also shared a similar sentiment on Instagram Tuesday, writing, "I'm frankly disappointed that the Academy would just let Smith psychically attack a man, on stage, just because he didn't like a joke!"

"And then, after that childish overreaction, they hand that guy a trophy?!" Che continued. "And then they all gave him a standing ovation?!"

Che went on to call out the Academy for rewarding Smith's bad behavior with the Best Actor trophy he was presented for his work in King Richard, shortly after the incident.

"I mean, as a viewer, it literally felt like I was watching the Academy and all of Hollywood reward this guy for being dramatic. And that's wrong," he said, concluding the slideshow post.

While Smith apologized to the Academy during his acceptance speech Sunday, he didn't make a formal public apology to Rock until Monday afternoon, in a statement he shared on Instagram.

"Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. 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 condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally," Smith began before apologizing to Rock.

"I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. 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," he continued.

Smith also apologized again to the Academy, as well as the Williams family and the cast and crew of King Richard for his behavior, which he said "has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for us all."
 
"I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family," Smith wrote. "I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us."

"I am a work in progress. Sincerely, Will," he added, bringing his lengthy statement to a close.

Rock has yet to publicly address the incident.

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