The Hollywood legend intervened moments after the altercation
Will Smith has shared the guidance Denzel Washington offered him shortly after the infamous moment when he struck Chris Rock during the Oscars ceremony.
The event unfolded on Sunday, 27 March, in Los Angeles when Rock joked about Jada Pinkett Smith, Will’s wife, referencing her shaved head with the line: “Jada, I love you. GI Jane 2, can’t wait to see you.” Pinkett Smith previously disclosed her alopecia diagnosis, which explained her bald appearance.
Following the joke, Smith walked onstage, struck Rock, and returned to his seat, loudly stating: “Keep my wife’s name out your f**ing mouth.”*
Immediately after the altercation, Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry were seen speaking with Smith, attempting to console him. About 15 minutes later, when Smith accepted the Best Actor award for King Richard, he reflected on a recent piece of advice from Washington during his emotional acceptance speech:
“I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people,” Smith said. “I know, to do what we do, we’ve gotta be able to take abuse. You’ve gotta be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business, you’ve gotta be able to have people disrespecting you. You’ve gotta smile and pretend that that’s okay.”
Smith then disclosed the counsel Washington gave him: “In your highest moments, be careful; that’s when the devil comes for you.”
Following the incident, Smith apologised to Rock. In an Instagram statement, he acknowledged that while humour is part of life as a public figure, “violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive.”
On 30 March, during his first stand-up show after the incident, Rock said he was “still processing” the events. Reports suggest he was unaware of Pinkett Smith’s health condition prior to his joke.
Smith has faced potential repercussions from the Academy, including suspension or expulsion, with the next board meeting scheduled for 18 April. Notable members of the Academy include Whoopi Goldberg, Steven Spielberg, and Laura Dern. However, on 1 April, Smith announced his resignation from the organisation, leaving questions about his future at the Oscars.
The incident sparked polarised reactions from Hollywood and social media, with many celebrities and public figures — including politicians — weighing in on the matter. A resurfaced 2016 joke from Rock about Pinkett Smith has also reignited attention in the wake of the incident.
Further footage of Rock and Pinkett Smith in the immediate aftermath of the altercation has circulated online.
You can view the full list of 2022 Oscar winners here and explore the latest updates and commentary surrounding this dramatic event.
