Jada Pinkett Smith says husband Will Smith ‘overreacted’ at the Oscars

The wife of Will Smith had only vaguely referenced his Oscars outburst but now she’s delved into more detail about the outrageous incident.

Jada Pinkett Smith is said to have “wished” her husband Will Smith hadn’t become physically violent with Chris Rock and last weekend’s Oscars ceremony and has acknowledged he “overreacted”.

It’s the first comments reported to have come from the actor that have directly address the shocking incident. Previously, she merely made a veiled reference to the outburst on Instagram where she wrote “this is the season for healing and I’m here for it”.

Movie star Smith slapped the comedian after he took to the stage and during his segment made a joke about Pinkett Smith’s shaved head.

She has a medical condition – alopecia – which causes hair loss.

Jada Pinkett Smith attends the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones on March 27, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

After initially laughing at the joke, Smith turned to his wife who was rolling her eyes. He then went up to the stage, slapped Rock and shouted obscenities at him.

Minutes later, Smith picked up the gong for best actor in the film King Richard to a standing ovation from the crowd. The Smiths then went and hung out at Oscars after parties.

Smith later apologised on social media and then, later the next week, made a more fulsome apology and resigned from Oscars’ organiser the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The Academy has said it “condemns” Smith’s actions and has started a formal investigation into the actor.

‘He overreacted’

According to US magazine Us Weekly, an insider said Pinkett Smith did not want or need Smith to defend her.

“She’s not one of these women that needs protecting.

“He didn’t need to do what he did, she didn’t need protecting.

“She’s a strong woman, an opinionated woman and she can fight her own battles. But she will stand by him.”

The insider continued that Pinkett Smith was “not angry” with her husband, but nonetheless “wishes he didn’t” go up on stage and hit someone.

“It was in the heat of the moment and it was him overreacting. He knows that, she knows that. They’re in agreement that he overreacted,” the source told Us Weekly.

The Academy is now investigating Will Smith’s actions. Picture: Instagram/Will Smith.

Formal review by Academy

On Thursday, the Academy said it had kicked off a formal review into the incident.

It has given Smith “15 days’ notice of a vote regarding his violations and sanctions, and the opportunity to be heard beforehand by means of a written response”.

On Friday, Smith wrote on Instagram that he would “fully accept any and all consequences” for his conduct, but was “resigning from membership in the Academy” ahead of the next meeting on April 18.

He said he would accept any additional penalties the board deemed appropriate.

“The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home,” Smith said in his statement.

“I betrayed the trust of the Academy. I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken.

Smith also acknowledged that his actions overshadowed other winners at the 94th Academy Awards, a sentiment which has been echoed for much of this week by those present on the night.

“I want to put the focus back on those who deserve attention for their achievements and allow the Academy to get back to the incredible work it does to support creativity and artistry in film,” he wrote.

“Change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason,” the I Am Legend actor wrote.