2022 Oscars: Will Smith releases a formal apology to Chris Rock

Will Smith has apologised to Chris Rock after attacking him at the Oscars.

Will Smith has released a formal apology to Chris Rock after the Academy Award winner slapped the comedian during yesterday’s Oscars ceremony.

“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive,’’ Smith posted to Instagram on Tuesday morning.

“My behaviour at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about 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.

“I would also like to apologise to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologise to the Williams family and my King Richard family.

“I deeply regret that my behaviour has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress.”

It also has emerged that during rehearsals, Rock didn’t tell the joke that led Smith to slap the comedian, people close to the production have told The Wall Street Journal.

Rock’s joke, a riff about short hair made in reference to Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, also wasn’t on the teleprompter, they said.

Pinkett Smith has said on social media that she has alopecia, a medical condition that causes hair loss. Representatives for Rock and Smith didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The Academy of Motion Picture Art and Sciences has launched a “formal review” of the shocking moment when Smith struck Rock on stage over the joke.

“The Academy condemns the actions of Mr Smith at last night’s show,” the Academy said in a statement released on Tuesday morning.

“We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law.”

In an earlier statement soon after the ceremony, the awards body did not name Smith but said: “The academy does not condone violence of any form. Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world.”

Smith’s physical attack on comedian-presenter Rock silenced a theatre full of Hollywood’s biggest stars and sharply divided social media, but it did not prevent him, moments later, from being given the coveted best actor award for his portrayal of Richard

Williams, father of tennis superstars Serena and Venus, in the biopic King Richard.

The Academy’s standards of conduct state that the organisation can take disciplinary actions including “revoking Academy awards or honours.” The Academy can take less drastic measures, too, including private or public reprimand, and temporary or permanent loss of eligibility for future Oscars.

Rock declined to file a police report against Smith, according to the Los Angeles Police Department, which released a statement saying that it was aware of “an incident between two individuals” at the Academy Awards. “The incident involved one individual slapping another,” the statement read.

After the ceremony, Smith continued in the manner of any regular Oscar winner. He posed for photographs, smiling with children Willow, Jaden and Trey Smith, alongside Pinkett Smith. Pinkett Smith changed into a spangled gown the colour of champagne. The family huddled close for an intimate photo portrait at the Vanity Fair Oscar party.

Smith’s accolade raises awkward questions about Hollywood’s ideals on the same night the academy held a minute of ­silence to express solidarity with war-ravaged Ukraine. Moreover, it awarded its top honour – best film – to CODA, a film with a predominantly deaf cast, marking a watershed moment of inclusion.

The apparent willingness to turn a blind eye to Smith’s assault sits awkwardly with the idea that well-paid Hollywood stars should be role models, as well as the industry’s crusading on everything from world peace to #MeToo and respect for freedom of expression.

Midway through the ceremony, Smith stormed the stage and slapped Rock across the face after the presenter told a joke mocking the shaved head of Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Pinkett Smith has spoken about how she suffers from alopecia, and her husband – who later tearily apologised for his behaviour – twice yelled at Rock from his seat: “Keep my wife’s name out of your f..king mouth.’’

Australian viewers heard this outburst – since dubbed “slapgate” – on Channel 7’s live broadcast, but America’s ABC network bleeped out Smith’s angry words.

“That was the greatest night in the history of television,” a clearly shaken Rock said as he continued to present the award for best ­documentary.

Stars shimmer on Oscars red carpet once again

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When Smith won the best actor award, he referred to how his screen alter ego, Richard Williams, “was a fierce defender of his family”. He said: “I want to apologise to the academy; I want to apologise to my all my fellow nominees.’’ He added that in the film business, “you got to be able to have people talk crazy about you” – but he did not apologise to Rock.

As tears streamed down his face, he said: “Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things.”

Following the incident, Smith took to the social media posting: “You can’t invite people from Philly or Baltimore nowhere”.

Will Smith responds to criticism of his violence on Instagram.

CODA, an Apple TV+ streaming movie, secured three Oscars and elbowed aside the highly fancied Australian-New Zealand co-production, Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog, to take out the best film Oscar – the first time a film from a streaming service had won this prestigious award.

Netflix’s The Power of the Dog was the frontrunner going into the ceremony with 12 nominations, but garnered just one award – best director for Kiwi writer-­director Jane Campion. Campion described her win as “a lifetime honour” and addressed Australian and New Zealander viewers with a Maori greeting.

Jane Campion celebrates her best director Oscar. Picture: Getty Images

The Sydney and New Zealand-based director made Oscars history by becoming the first woman to be nominated twice in the best director category, following her shortlisting for The Piano in 1994.

Australian cinematographer Greig Fraser won an Oscar for his work on sci-fi epic Dune. He thanked his family, saying that allowing “a middle-aged man to go and play with his friends in the sand dunes for six months is pretty amazing’’.

Australian cinematographer Greig Fraser with his Oscar for Dune. Picture: Getty Images

The Power of the Dog’s Kodi Smit-McPhee lost out in the best supporting actor category to CODA’s Troy Kotsur, who made history as the first deaf man to win an acting Oscar. Using sign language, Kotsur dedicated his award to the deaf, CODA and ­disabled communities and said: “This is our moment.”

Jessica Chastain (The Eyes of Tammy Faye) edged out Nicole Kidman (Being the Ricardos) in the best actress category, while queer Latina actress Ariana De­Bose took out the best supporting actress award for her electrifying performance in West Side Story.

French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi film Dune won six categories including best cinematography and visual effects, and Japan’s Drive My Car won best international film.

After three host-free years, the 2022 Oscars were presided over by three female hosts: Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes. Schumer quipped: “The academy hired three women to host, because it’s cheaper than hiring one man.’’