Oscars 2022: The Academy Speaks Out After Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock on Live TV
Will Smith Apologizes to the Academy for Oscars Night Slap as Ho…
'Stranger Things' Season 4: David Harbour and Wynonna Ryder Reac…
Blac Chyna and Rob Kardashian Reach Settlement in Revenge Porn C…
Travis Barker Relaxes at Beach With Kourtney Kardashian After He…
'Big Brother' 24 Houseguests Tell Their Strategies in 5 Words or…
'Stranger Things': Joseph Quinn on Eddie's Metallica Performance…
'Lightyear': Chris Evans on Taking Over Tim Allen's Iconic 'Toy …
Eddie Van Halen’s Son Wolfgang Reveals the Best Advice He Receiv…
Nicky Hilton Welcomes Baby No.2 -- Find Out Her Daughter's Name!
Hayden Panettiere Calls Holding Daughter Kaya 'The Best Feeling …
Kim Kardashian's Daughter North West Wears Dad Kanye's Hand-me-d…
Kelly Ripa on How Jimmy Kimmel Roped Her (and Her Dad!) Into 'Ge…
Wendy Williams Has Plans for Life and Love After Talk Show's Dem…
Chris Pratt Fires Back at Internet Haters as He Clarifies Religi…
Chris Martin Helps Girlfriend Dakota Johnson Do a Virtual Interv…
Noah Schnapp Cries Over 'Stranger Things' Season 4, Vol. 2 Drop
Sharna Burgess Says She's 'Grateful Beyond Words' For Brian Aust…
'RHOBH's Erika Jayne on Being Called a 'Villain' & Her 'Complex …
Chris Rock Dating Lake Bell While Laying Low Following Will Smit…
The Academy is speaking out after Will Smith abruptly took the stage and slapped comedian Chris Rock at the 94th Annual Academy Awards on Sunday. The moment came just after Rock had taken a dig at Will's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, saying, "Jada, I love ya. G.I. Jane 2, can't wait to see it."
Pinkett Smith has been open about her struggles with alopecia, an autoimmune disorder which causes bald spots and hair loss. Moments later, Smith walked onto the stage and gave Rock an open-handed slap to his cheek. Smith then walked offstage and cursed at Rock from his seat, yelling, "Leave my wife's name out of your f**king mouth."
Shortly after, Smith took home his first-ever Oscar for his leading role in King Richard, and took a moment to apologize to the Academy.
"I want to apologize to the Academy, I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees," he said during his speech. "Art imitates life, I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams. Love will make you do crazy things.... Thank you to the Academy, I hope you will have me back."
As for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization's official account tweeted following the incident.
"The Academy does not condone violence of any form," read the statement. "Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world."
Oscar producer Will Packer also tweeted, "Welp…I said it wouldn’t be boring #Oscars."
Many people took to Twitter to call out the Academy for their tweet, calling it hypocritical after Smith won the Oscar moments after the incident and there was no visible sign of any repercussions for Smith's behavior.
Comedian Rosie O'Donnell replied to the Academy's tweet, writing, "Then why did you do NOTHING?"
Neither Rock nor Smith has directly spoken about the incident. The LAPD told ET that Rock has declined to to file a police report at this time.
For more coverage of the 2022 Oscars, keeping checking back with ETonline.
RELATED CONTENT:
Will Smith Celebrates His Oscar Win With Family at After-Party
Celebrities React to Will Smith and Chris Rock's Oscars Altercation
Will Smith Breaks Down While Accepting Best Actor at 2022 Oscars
Related Gallery
