LETTER: Will Smith breaks silence after slapping Chris Rock at Oscars
Will Smith, who won the Oscar for Best Actor for 'King Richard', broke his silence after he slapped comedian Chris Rock when he made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. The Academy Governor, Whoopi Goldberg, said that they "won't take that Oscar" from him.
American comedian Chris Rock took to the Oscars stage on Sunday night to introduce the nominees for the Best Documentary Feature Award.
Rock made jokes about several audience members, including actor Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who wore her hair short.
READ: Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at Oscars
Rock made a joke about her short hair and after the joke, a visibly upset Smith stormed the stage and slapped Rock in the face.
Smith then repeatedly yelled, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f-ing mouth!”
Pinkett Smith has previously spoken about her struggle with hair loss disorder, alopecia.
READ: Will Smith's son reacts to viral slap moment at Oscars
Moments later, Smith won the award for Best Actor for his role as tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams' father, Richard, in the film, 'King Richard'.
Smith later apologised while making his Best Actor acceptance speech.
"I want to apologise to the Academy. I want to apologise to all my fellow nominees. Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things."
READ: Tearful Will Smith Oscar speech after slapping Chris Rock
Smith later also broke his silence and apologised on Instagram.
"My behaviour 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."
The Academy Governor, Whoopi Goldberg, also an Oscar winner, said that Smith will face consequences but they "won't take that Oscar" from him.
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