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Daily Record
Daily Record
Entertainment
Kirsten McStay

Will Smith 'condemned' by Oscars Academy as investigation launched into Chris Rock smack

A lot has happened since we all went to sleep here in the UK regarding the incident between Will Smith and Chris Rock.

At the 94th Oscar awards on Sunday night, the actor got up on stage and hit the host in the face after he made a joke about his wife Jada's hair, even though she suffers from Alopecia.

The incident unfolded after the 57-year-old presenter's jibe about Jada Pinket Smith 's shaved head.

He said: "Jada, can't wait for G.I. Jane 2."

But his joke wasn't found funny by all by Jada's husband Will, who stormed on to stage and hit him across the face.

Will - who went on to win Best Actor later in the evening - went back to his seat and shouted: "Keep my wife's name out of your f****** mouth."

Will's wife Jada has previously opened up about her shaved head after suffering from alopecia.

So what's happened since the event?

US actor Will Smith (R) slaps US actor Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 27, 2022. (gettyimages.ie)

Public apology

Despite apologising to the Academy on stage when he accepted his award for Best Actor, he made a statement on his Instagram apologising directly to Chris.

He wrote: "Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive.

Will Smith issues public apology to Chris Rock and says insists 'violence is poisonous' (will smith)

"My behavior at last night's Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes a 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."

He continued: "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."

Academy statement

Oscar bosses said they do not condone violence and revealed they would be holding in internal review into the incident.

Their statement read: "The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night's show. 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."

Will wasn't happy with his comments (REUTERS)

The statement released by AMPAS follows a late night tweet after the altercation, in which they posted: "The Academy does not condone violence of any form."

Police involvement

A spokesperson for the force says it is "aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards programme...[which] involved one individual slapping another".

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. (Getty Images)

"The individual involved has declined to file a police report. If the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report."

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