Will Smith Reflects On His 10-Year Oscars Ban
The 2022 Academy Awards were the best of times and the worst of times for Will Smith.
Smith won his first Oscar for Best Actor for his portrayal of Venus and Serena Williams’ father Richard in the film King Richard. After losing in the same category twice before, in 2002 and 2007 for Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness, respectively, the moment felt like a long time coming. But there was a dark cloud that hung over his entire acceptance speech.
The typically mild-mannered Smith was seemingly upset over a G.I. Jane joke from Chris Rock about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith. The actor responded by walking onstage, slapping Rock, and demanding that the comedian keep his “wife’s name out your fucking mouth.”
The Associated Press recently caught up with Will to find out where he stands with the ban and if there are plans to appeal. “I am looking to be the best human I can possibly be, and I’m gonna take what I get with that,” he said.
Smith resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences over his actions, adding that he will “fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct.” The Academy decided to ban Smith from all events for 10 years.
Smith apologized to Rock in his Academy resignation speech. He posted an open letter in which he apologized to the comedian again. “I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,” he wrote. “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.”
Will explained he “reacted emotionally” in the moment over a joke about Jada’s medical condition because it was “too much for me to bear.”
Smith released a video a few months later, revealing he reached out to Rock but was told that the comedian was not ready to speak. “My behavior was unacceptable and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk,” he said.
When asked about the possibility of hosting the Oscars for a third time earlier this month, Rock did not rule it out.
“You never know. This is what I would say, the most miserable people on earth are people that can’t forgive,” he said. “And not just people, you have to forgive yourself sometimes, too. So, hey, you never know.”
“I live in forgiveness,” Rock concluded. “True love starts at forgiveness.”
Ahead of his first album in 20 years, Will Smith called himself “one of the most prolific actors of our time.” In a recent stream with Plaqueboymax, the King Richard Oscar winner also placed himself alongside Marlon Brando and other legendary actors when naming his Mount Rushmore of acting greats.
Ahead of his first album in 20 years, Will Smith called himself “one of the most prolific actors of our time.” In a recent stream with Plaqueboymax, the King Richard Oscar winner also placed himself alongside Marlon Brando and other legendary actors when naming his Mount Rushmore of acting greats.
