Celebrities Weigh In On Will Smith's Violent Outburst At The Oscars
Whether or not you watched the Academy Awards this weekend, you know exactly what happened when Chris Rock took the stage to present the award for best documentary feature. That's all anyone can talk about.
If you missed it, Rock joked about various celebrities in the audience (via Deadline). The issue came when Rock attempted to poke fun at Will Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, for her shaved head. Since Pinkett Smith has alopecia, her husband didn't take well to the joke. It ended with him slapping the comedian in the face.
Celebrities attending the event and fans viewing at home were equally shocked. While Rock was assaulted in front of millions of viewers, it seems he did not want to file a police report. So far, one of the biggest things that has come from the incident is that the Academy announced plans to investigate it more thoroughly (via USA Today). There's also been a slew of tweets and statements from celebrities in attendance and watching at home.
Amy Schumer weighed in on the incident during the broadcast
The celebrity guest list at the 2022 Academy Awards was impressive. Some of the celebs making a stop at the awards show included Jamie Lee Curtis, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Garner, Jake Gyllenhaal, Tiffany Haddish, and Samuel L. Jackson (per TV Line).
Out of the celebrities in attendance, a few made statements online regarding the incident between Chris Rock and Will Smith (via Us Weekly). During the awards show, co-host Amy Schumer, who had done a bit prior where she was hanging from the ceiling in Spider-Man garb, was one of the first celebs to weigh in. She even did so during the broadcast!
Schumer returned to the stage after it all went down and remarked, "I've been getting out of that Spider-Man costume. Did I miss anything?" Of course, the audience laughed. She added, "There's, like, a different vibe in here."
There certainly was a different vibe in the room following the altercation, and celebrities at home were ready to comment on it, too.
Some celebs were on the side of Will Smith
According to the Washington Post, public opinion was mixed on who was in the right during the altercation between Will Smith and Chris Rock. That was even true with celebrities who weighed in. Some believed that Smith was right to stand up for his wife; others thought Rock was entitled to free speech, and that violence is never the answer.
Jameela Jamil tweeted in support of Smith. "Will Smith said 'Not Today[.]' A man big enough to absolutely floor him, slapped him softly enough that Chris barely moved, because he made fun of his wife's alopecia on a world stage." She continued, "Don't say #protectBlackwomen for two years and then only condemn Will here. Come on..." She added an image of a Malcolm X quote to drive her point home.
Tiffany Haddish was also on the side of Smith. She told the Los Angeles Times, "I think Chris was messy. As a woman who had a husb[sic], I wish my husb[sic] would have stood up 4[sic] me the way (Will) stood up for (Jada)," adding, "That's what every woman wants, right? She was hurt. And he protected his wife. And that's what a man is supposed 2[sic] do."
Others felt for Chris Rock
Other stars were on the side of Chris Rock. Comedian Kathy Griffin shared that she was now worried that other people would follow in Will Smith's footsteps and take out their distaste for a joke on the comedian in a physical manner. "Let me tell you something, it's a very bad practice to walk up on stage and physically assault a Comedian," Griffin tweeted. "Now we all have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theaters."
Rosie O'Donnell also supported Rock. "So upsetting – on every level – bravo to Chris Rock – for not eviscerating Will Smith – which he could do any day of the week – he walked away – bravo from a sad display of toxic masculinity from a narcissistic madman," she tweeted.
Maria Shriver echoed support for Rock. "We should never get to a place where we sit and watch a movie star hit someone on global television then, moments later, get a standing ovation while talking about love," she wrote.