Jada Pinkett Smith broke her silence on Tuesday after her husband Will Smith appeared to slap Chris Rock during Sunday’s Academy Awards broadcast.
Her husband on Monday issued an apology to Rock after he slapped the comedian for making a joke about Pinkett Smith’s shaved head during the awards show.
“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable,” Smith wrote in his apology, coming hours after the Academy’s organizers said they would investigate the incident and possibly reprimand him.
According to Pinkett Smith in several previous interviews, she allegedly suffers from alopecia, which can cause sudden hair loss.
“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,” Smith said in his apology.
“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,” the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” actor wrote, adding: “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.”
Rock, for his part, has not issued a public comment on the matter. The Los Angeles Police Department on Monday confirmed he would not press charges over the incident.
On Monday afternoon, the Academy wrote in a statement: “The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night’s show. 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.”
The Screen Actor’s Guild also issued a critical comment on Monday night and said it would take action.
“As the union representing presenters and other performers working on the Oscars, SAG-AFTRA is focused on ensuring our members always work in a safe environment,” the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists said in a statement posted on its website.
“Violence or physical abuse in the workplace is never appropriate and the union condemns any such conduct. The incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable.”
