Moments following punching Chris Rock in the face, live at the Oscars on Sunday night, Will Smith was comforted by his colleagues and friends, who came on stage to talk to him.
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In a video posted on Twitter by Hollywood Reporter reporter Scott Feinberg, Will Smith can be seen being supported by Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry while he is on stage during the commercial break, just following the incident.
These seem to encourage him and tell him to take it upon himself. Will Smith wipes away a few tears before descending to be comforted by his press officer.
He then joins his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith, whom he comforts.
screenshot | Scott Feinberg
The world was stunned on Sunday evening following the altercation between the two actors, the first going up on stage to slap the second.
Chris Rock, one of the presenters of the 94e ceremony of the most prestigious awards in Hollywood, had just made a joke regarding the wife of Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith.
He compared her cropped hair to Demi Moore’s shaved head in Ridley Scott’s GI Jane.
Jada Pinkett-Smith, who has publicly spoken regarding her alopecia (hair loss) in the past, rolled her eyes. At first hilarious, Will Smith then went on stage and slapped Chris Rock, the sound of the blow resonating in the microphones in front of the stunned spectators, in the room where the ceremony was taking place as on their sofa.
screenshot | Scott Feinberg
ABC channel muted the sound during the ensuing scene, but the dialogue was audible on foreign televisions.
“Wow. wow. Will Smith has just taken my head off,” said Chris Rock. “It was a joke on” GI Jane “”, he justified himself with the actor.
screenshot | Scott Feinberg
“Leave my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth,” Will Smith yelled, returning to his wife’s side.
– With AFP