Will Smith Oscars slap is turned into a Ukraine political statement
A street artist has taken the infamous Will Smith Oscars slap and turned it into a political statement to support Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.
Will Smith’s infamous Oscars slap may inadvertently be helping people in Ukraine after the moment was recreated by a Los Angeles street artist.
In the mural, artist Todd Goodman, whose street art moniker is 1GoodHombre, has depicted the Oscar winner slapping Russian President Vladimir Putin instead of comedian Chris Rock.
The artwork also has a speech bubble with the words, “Keep Ukraine out your f***ing mouth,” in reference to the words Smith shouted during the Oscars ceremony to Rock, “Keep my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth.”
Russian troops first entered Ukraine in an invasion led by Mr Putin on February 24. It has led to millions of Ukrainian citizens being displaced and thousands killed in the conflict.
Goodman, a teacher and artist, is known for making political statements through his art. He told HuffPost that he wanted to use the Oscars incident, which made global headlines, to point people to what is a much more important crisis currently taking place.
“Given the proximity to Hollywood, I wanted to use this moment, this town, this ridiculous situation, to draw attention to the war, with the hopes of not only raising awareness but also to raise money for humanitarian aid,” he said.
He has put a QR code next to the mural, which will direct people to a website where they can donate to Global Giving: Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund.
He said he hopes the new mural provides “a moment of catharsis for the people of Ukraine or anyone who is hurting or feeling victimised by Putin’s invasion”.
The artwork was met with support online.
On Instagram, one person commented: “That’s badass.”
Another wrote: “Amazing. We love you Ukraine.”
A third said: “Now we’re talking.”
‘No place for violence’
Smith resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and has been banned from attending the Oscars or other Academy events for 10 years after the moment at last month’s Oscar ceremony where he went up on stage and struck Rock.
The slap took place after the presenter made a joke about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head.
Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia, an auto-immune illness which causes hair loss.
After the incident, Smith wrote on social media: “Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behaviour at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable.”
He added, “Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about my Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.
“I would like to publicly apologise 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.”
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