Will Smith to Chris Rock: ‘I was out of line’

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. Image: Instagram/@willsmith

LOS ANGELES — Actor Will Smith offered apologies on Monday to Chris Rock for smacking the comedian during the Oscars on Sunday night, as the body that oversees the awards said it was launching a formal review of that incident.

Smith, who was named best actor, earlier strode on stage during the final hour of the ceremony and hit Rock in the face over a joke about wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair.

Rock had quipped that Pinkett Smith appeared ready to star in “G.I. Jane 2” — a putative sequel to a film about a female soldier who has a shaved head.

Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss, and had a closely cropped head at Sunday’s ceremony.

Upon returning to his seat, Smith yelled twice at Rock, “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth.”

He later tearfully apologized to his fellow nominees and the Academy—but not to Rock—when he accepted his historic Oscar.

But in his statement on Monday, Smith said, “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.”

“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable,” he added.

“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 also said.

“I am a work in progress.”

Studio executives

Smith’s mea culpa came hours after the 9,900-member Academy condemned his behavior and said it was looking at possible sanctions.

“We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law,” a statement said.

The Academy’s conduct policy states it is “opposed to any form of abuse, harassment or discrimination” and expects members to uphold the values of “respect for human dignity, inclusion, and a supportive environment that fosters creativity.”

Violations may result in suspension or expulsion from the organization, revocation of Oscars, or loss of eligibility for future awards, according to the policy.

But it is rare, although not unprecedented, for the film academy to revoke membership. Producer Harvey Weinstein was expelled in 2017 after more than three dozen women accused him of sexual assault.

Studio executives were publicly silent about Smith on Monday. The 53-year-old actor has projects in the works with Netflix Inc., Walt Disney Co. and Apple TV+ .

These companies did not respond to requests for comment.

One of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, Smith has anchored lucrative franchises such as “Independence Day” and “Men in Black,” and his films have grossed more than $9 billion at global box offices.

‘Toxic masculinity’

Celebrities, on the other hand, reacted with shock and stunned amazement at Smith’s outburst.

Some defended him but others condemned what the comedian Rosie O’Donnell called “his sad display of toxic masculinity from a narcissistic madman.”

Comedian Kathy Griffin said on Twitter: “Now we all have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theaters.”

In his tweet, “Star Wars” icon Mark Hamill said, “Stand-up comics are very adept at handling hecklers. Violent physical assault… not so much.”

Booker prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo said, “Only the fifth black man in nearly 100 years to win an Oscar for male lead, and the first in 16 years, resorts to violence instead of utilizing the power of words to slay Chris Rock. Then he claims God and Love made him do it.”

One Academy voter who wished to remain anonymous said “I would have preferred the story being about the great diversity of the Awards show, which now seems secondary.”

The Academy member noted further, “A female director won, an actor from the disabled community won, as did an actress of the LGBTQ community.”

After-party

Smith went from the Oscars to the Vanity Fair after-party, where he and his family posed for photos.

Inside, he was filmed dancing and singing along to his 1991 smash “Summertime.”

Some celebrities who came to Smith’s defense include singer Nicki Minaj.

“You just got to witness in real time what happens in a man’s soul when he looks over to the woman he loves & sees her holding back tears from a ‘little joke’ at her expense,” she tweeted.

There were calls on social media for Smith to be stripped of his Oscar. But Academy governor and Oscar winner Whoopi Goldberg said that would not happen.

“We’re not going to take that Oscar from him,” she said in her program “The View.” JB

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