Will Smith issues apology to Chris Rock

'I am embarrassed'. 

Actor  Will Smith has issued an apology for striking presenter Chris Rock at Sunday's Academy Awards.

In a post on Instagram on Monday afternoon, Smith called his behavior "unacceptable and inexcusable."

Chris Rock had earlier made a joke about Pinkett Smith being in “G.I. Jane” because of her bald head. Pinkett Smith announced last year she shaved her head after struggling with alopecia. After smacking Rock in the face, Smith yelled at him, “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth!” The Oscar audience, and viewers on social media, were stunned by Smith’s slap, which seemed like a comedic skit at first. The incident took place during the presentation of best documentary feature, which was a few categories before best actor. Smith addressed the slap immediately upon taking the stage to accept the award.

Here's the full statement: 

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.

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.  

 

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. 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

The Academy says it "Does Not Condone Violence" after Will Smith smacks Chris Rock

 

The Academy took to social media to address Will Smith and Chris Rock Oscars Altercation. 

"The Academy does not condone violence of any form," the Twitter statement, posted early March 28, read. 

"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."

The award show moment, which left viewers around the world stunned, instantly went viral online, even leading some to speculate that it had been planned.

Later on during the telecast, a tearful Will apologized to the Academy and his fellow nominees after being awarded the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of Venus Williams and Serena Williams' father, Richard Williams. With a report from EOnline

Will Smith apologizes to the Academy for slapping Chris Rock

 

As viewers were still processing an incident in which Will Smith walked onstage at the Oscars and slapped Chris Rock for making a joke about wife Jada Pinkett Smith, the King Richard star was announced as the night’s Best Actor winner.

Will Smith apologized to the Academy and his fellow best actor nominees in his winning acceptance speech, shortly after he went onstage and slapped Chris Rock for making a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith. He did not address Rock in his speech.

“I want to apologize to the Academy. I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees. 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. Tim and Trevor and Zack and Saniyya and Demi and Aunjanue and the entire cast and crew of ‘King Richard,’ Venus and Serena, the entire Williams family. Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams,” Smith said in his tearful acceptance speech.

Rock had earlier made a joke about Pinkett Smith being in “G.I. Jane” because of her bald head. Pinkett Smith announced last year she shaved her head after struggling with alopecia. After smacking Rock in the face, Smith yelled at him, “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth!” The Oscar audience, and viewers on social media, were stunned by Smith’s slap, which seemed like a comedic skit at first. The incident took place during the presentation of best documentary feature, which was a few categories before best actor. Smith addressed the slap immediately upon taking the stage to accept the award.

“ Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family. In this time in my life, in this moment, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world. Making this film, I got to protect Aunjanue Ellis, who is one of the strongest, most delicate people I’ve ever met. I got to protect Saniyya and Demi, the two actresses that played Venus and Serena,” he said, as he began to tear up. “I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people. I know to do what we do, you got to be able to take abuse. You got to be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business you got to be able to have people disrespecting you. And you got to smile and you got to pretend like that’s okay.”

After the incident with Rock, Smith’s publicist Meredith O. Sullivan, Oscar producer Will Packer and best actor nominee Denzel Washington came by to talk to Smith during the commercial breaks. In his speech, Smith revealed what Washington said to him.

“Thank you, Dee. Denzel said a few minutes ago, ‘At your highest moment, be careful, that’s when the Devil comes for you,'” Smith said.

Despite the shocking moment that had just taken place, Smith kept the end of his speech light and joked about being invited back to the Oscars.

“To my mother — a lot of this moment is really complicated for me — but to my mother, she didn’t want to come out. She had her knitting friends; she has a knitting crew that she’s in Philly watching with. Being able to love and care for my mother and my family, my wife — I’m taking up too much time. Thank you for this honor. Thank you for this moment. And thank you on behalf of Richard and Oracene [Price] and the entire Williams family. Thank you. I hope the Academy invites me back,” Smith said before exiting the stage.

94th Oscars to feature 1st live performance of 'We Don' t Talk Abour Bruno' from 'Encanto'

 

LOS ANGELES, CA – “Encanto” cast members Adassa, Stephanie Beatriz, Mauro Castillo, Carolina Gaitan and Diane Guerrero, along with Becky G and Luis Fonsi, will perform “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from “Encanto” on the 94th Oscars®, show producers Will Packer and Shayla Cowan announced today.  This will be the first live performance of the song written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is nominated for Best Original Song for “Dos Oruguitas,” also from “Encanto.”

The 94th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT and in more than 200 territories worldwide.  American Sign Language (ASL) provided by Certified Deaf Interpreters, live closed captioning and audio description will be available during the live broadcast.

94th Oscars Governors Ball brings something new to the table with Chef Wolfgang Puck and Ghetto gastro collaboration

LOS ANGELES, CA – Chef Wolfgang Puck and Wolfgang Puck Catering will return to create the menu for this year’s Governors Ball, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ official post-Oscars® celebration, which will immediately follow the 94th Oscars ceremony on Sunday, March 27.  The team will collaborate on menu items with Bronx-based culinary collective Ghetto Gastro.  Merging food, fashion, music, art and design, Ghetto Gastro’s work masterfully blends influences from the African diaspora, global South ingredients and hip-hop to create offerings that address race, identity and economic empowerment.

“Chef Wolfgang Puck and his masterful team raise the bar with each Governors Ball, and this year will be no different,” said Academy governor and Awards Committee chair Jennifer Todd.  “We’re thrilled to welcome the extraordinary talents of Ghetto Gastro to the table.  Together, Wolfgang and the Ghetto Gastro collective will create an inspired culinary experience for our Oscars guests.” 

“Every year we look to find ways to keep things new, fresh and fun,” said Wolfgang Puck.  “The Oscars Governors Ball is an event where food, fashion, culture, cinema and music collide.  To celebrate this convergence, we couldn’t think of a better partner than Ghetto Gastro.”

The menu will feature new, imaginative dishes from Wolfgang Puck Catering alongside such guest favorites as smoked salmon Oscars and spicy tuna cones.  Ghetto Gastro’s Jon Gray, Pierre Serrao and Lester Walker will complement the offerings with their own action station in addition to several passed menu items throughout the night. 

“At Ghetto Gastro, we have a saying, ‘WE ONLY LAYER FLAVORS’ (W.O.L.F.) – so we feel it’s only right that we collaborate with the great Wolfgang Puck to create an Oscars Governors Ball unlike any before.  Wolf Gang activity,” said Gray, co-founder of Ghetto Gastro. 

“This is a first-of-its-kind collaboration that breaks boundaries and brings a new flavor to the Oscars Governors Ball,” said show producer Will Packer.  “The Ghetto Gastro Collective, Wolfgang Puck and Academy teams embraced this dope alliance, which is all about uniting people in a true celebration of film AND food.”

To complement the food, the Governors Ball also will feature a variety of beverages. Champagne Fleur de MIRAVAL—the only Champagne house exclusively devoted to Rosé Champagne—will be poured along with two limited-edition Francis Ford Coppola Wines in honor of the 94th Oscars. Acclaimed mixologist Charles Joly will again curate a selection of Tequila Don Julio specialty cocktails.

The Governors Ball will take place in the Ray Dolby Ballroom on the top level of Hollywood & Highland® immediately following the Oscars broadcast.

The 94th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby® Theatre at Hollywood & Highland in Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and in more than 200 territories worldwide.