LOS ANGELES: The organizers of the Oscars ceremony tweeted that it does not condone violence following an incident in which actor Will Smith slapped presenter Chris Rock in the face on stage during the live broadcast.
“The Academy does not condone violence of any form,” the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences tweeted following the ceremony. “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.”
The Academy Awards telecast returned to offered a trio of women hosts, return to lavish musical productions and a big dose of comedy. The testy humor by comedian Chris Rock was found offensive by actor Will Smith and led to Sunday night’s biggest moment – a nominated actor slapping a presenter in the face in anger on live national television.
The unprecedented physical altercation upstaged the final half hour of the show and will certainly go down as one of the most memorable moments in Oscar history. It also is sure to thrust the Oscars, facing steadily sagging TV viewership in recent years, back in the cultural conversation, though probably not in the way organizers imagined.
As it unfolded, many in the room and watching from home were left momentarily wondering whether the spectacle had been staged. It turned out to be entirely unscripted. The surreal confrontation was sparked when Smith took exception at Chris Rock for making a crack about his wife’s closely shaven hair as the comedian was about to present the award for best documentary.
Smith suddenly strode onto the stage and slapped Rock hard across the face with his open hand. The actor then turned and took his seat again beside his spouse, actress Jada Pinkett Smith, who suffers from a hair loss condition called alopecia. Smith then repeatedly shouted a vulgarity at Rock in defense of his wife.
Rock, visibly stunned but maintaining his composure, acknowledged he had just been smacked by Smith and jokingly said the incident made for the “greatest night in the history of television.”
It certainly overshadowed the evening. Seeking to lighten the mood moments later, co-host Amy Schumer, emerged back on stage from a previous gag to feign ignorance of the whole affair: “Did I miss anything? There seems to be a different vibe in here.” Veteran actor Anthony Hopkins made mention of the episode before presenting the best-actress award, saying, “Well, what an evening,” adding, “Will Smith said it all.”
Smith had more to say as he took the stage again as winner of the best-actor award for portraying Richard Williams, the father and coach of tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams in the biopic “King Richard.”
A tearful Smith apologized to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and fellow nominees during his acceptance speech, in which he started off saying, “Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family.” He left the stage to a standing ovation, after telling the crowd, “I hope the academy invites me back.”
The telecast began the Williams sisters introducing the show-opening performance by pop superstar Beyonce of her single “Be Alive,” from the “King Richard” soundtrack, nominated as best original song.
