Earvin «Magic» Johnson's four-part documentary, , where Abdul-Jabbar elaborated on his feelings about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock in the face after he made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head. The day after the Oscars telecast, Abdul-Jabbar wrote an op-ed, where he called the physical confrontation «a blow to men, women, the entertainment industry, and the Black community.» The former NBA player likened the thought process that Smith was defending his wife's honor to the «justification currently being proclaimed by conservatives passing laws to restrict abortion and the LGBTQ+ community.»On Thursday night's red carpet, the 75-year-old told ET that he believed Pinkett Smith «should have been given some consideration» from the public after the incident. Most of the immediate and long-standing reactions to the eventful Oscars night focused on the actress' husband and the comedian.«I just felt that Will's wife really should have been given some consideration as to, you know, how she felt about it and what she wanted to do about it,» he explained. «I mean [people] just ignored her altogether and I didn't think that made much sense.
Can Will Smith Recover From the Oscars Slap Fallout?
30.03.2022 - 18:47 / variety.com
Will Smith has been a professional movie star for three decades.It’s a job that comes with a draining, all-consuming level of scrutiny, but Smith never really seemed to buckle under the weight of the exposure. On red carpets, he’d mug for cameras and seemed to feed off the energy of screaming fans.
In interviews and late night appearances, he’d be down for anything, revealing a few intimate details (OK, maybe a little too intimate at times) while still maintaining enough of a barricade of privacy to keep his A-list status intact. In professional settings, at lunches and dinners with Oscar voters, Smith would work the room, making eye contact, remembering names, and grabbing shoulders and arms in shows of sincerity with a fluency that would put seasoned politicians to shame.
He was the consummate celebrity. So Smith’s violent outburst at Sunday’s Oscars was a shock to the fans who have loved him and to the scores of studio executives, directors, producers and handlers who have orbited the actor for years.
Sure, Smith could be demanding, and he expected the kind of luxuries, material comforts and deference that comes with being a top-tier leading man, but he was also usually gracious and generous, with a performer’s innate ability to always know when the public’s gaze had turned on him.That’s what made his decision to storm the stage and assault comedian Chris Rock in the middle of Hollywood’s biggest night both uncharacteristic and deeply disturbing. Smith, after nearly a full day had gone by, offered up an apology to Rock, the Academy and viewers on Monday.
But his actions could tarnish his carefully cultivated image and impact his career. It will certainly mar what should have been one of the proudest moments of his
.
Jay Leno Weighs In On Will Smith’s Chris Rock Oscar Slap: ‘This Is Real Anger’
Jay Leno is sharing his thoughts about Will Smith slapping Chris Rock in the midst of the 2022 Oscars.
Will Smith's longtime friend Jazzy Jeff comes to his defense over Oscars slap: 'It was a lapse in judgment'
Will Smith's longtime friend and former "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" co-star Jazzy Jeff defended the actor, saying the Oscars slap was a "lapse in judgment." Jeff spoke about Smith slapping Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards during a Closed Sessions Legend Conversation at Dorian’s Through the Record Shop in Chicago. Smith slapped Rock after the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's bald head.
Gilbert Gottfried supported Chris Rock after Will Smith Oscars slap in last social media post before death
Gilbert Gottfried showed support for Chris Rock in his final days. Gottfried, one of the most recognizable voices in show business, died after a long illness on Tuesday. He was 67.
Will Smith’s Oscars slap: Is there an impact on Jada Pinkett Smith’s brand? Experts weigh in
Jada Pinkett Smith seems to be distancing herself from the infamous Oscars slap, and brand experts tell Fox News Digital it might be a wise move. Pinkett Smith and husband Will Smith made headlines after Will slapped Chris Rock in the face over a joke Rock told while presenting an award at the 94th annual Academy Awards.
Will Smith Banned from the Oscars for 10 Years - Read the Academy's Full Statement
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has announced that Will Smith will be banned from all Academy events, including the Oscars, for the next 10 years.
Will Smith’s fan support continues to decline after Oscars slap: poll
slapped Oscars presenter Chris Rock in the face during the live broadcast on ABC last month.As of Friday, nearly half of respondents — 47% — gave the Best Actor winner an “unfavorable” rating, according to the Yahoo News/YouGov poll taken between March 27 and April 4.That’s worse than the response immediately following the event, on March 28, when just 37% made the same assessment, Yahoo reported. The torrent of statements made by celebrities and industry entities alike have debatably (looking at you, Janet Hubert) skewed toward disapproval for the 53-year-old actor’s shocking behavior, including those levied by actors Jim Carrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Golden Globes host Ricky Gervais and even OJ Simpson.
Michael Bay: ‘I don’t really care’ about Will Smith Oscars slap
slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars.Bay, who directed Smith in “Bad Boys” and “Bad Boys II,” was not watching the 2022 Oscars live, but was flooded with texts about the incident.“I wasn’t watching. I saw it. First of all, it’s wrong to begin with,” Bay told Yahoo! Entertainment.“I don’t really care.
Amy Schumer Compares Will Smith to His Role as Muhammad Ali After Chris Rock Oscars Slap
Still reeling from the incident. Amy Schumer, who cohosted the 2022 Oscars, further discussed the Will Smith and Chris Rock drama in her most recent standup routine.
‘SNL’ mocks Will Smith’s infamous, inescapable Oscars slap
slapped comedian Chris Rock in face at the Oscars over a joke about his wife.In a sketch taking place at the Oscars, host Jerrod Carmichael plays a seat filler who gets opportunity to meet one of his heroes, Will Smith, played by Chris Redd. The two strike up an innocuous, friendly conversation and the filler asks Smith for a selfie when suddenly the audio of Chris Rock’s “G.I.
Will Packer to Talk Will Smith Oscars Slap Controversy on ‘GMA’
Brian Steinberg Senior TV EditorWill Packer, the producer of this year’s Oscars telecast on ABC, is expected to speak about the controversy at the event that involved actor Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock, in an appearance on Friday morning’s broadcast of “Good Morning America,” according to two people familiar with the matter.The interview may be one of the first public eyewitness accounts from one of the executives in charge of the Oscars broadcast.The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has launched a formal review following Smith’s assault on Rock at Sunday’s Oscars ceremony. Conflicting accounts have emerged, with the Academy claiming it asked Smith to leave Sunday’s Oscars ceremony after hitting Rock, who had made a joke about the appearance of Jada Pinkett Smith.
A Complete Breakdown of Will Smith and Chris Rock’s History Before the Oscars Slap: Video
Before the slap. Will Smith and Chris Rock‘s altercation at the 2022 Oscars made tons of headlines, but the duo’s history began well before the comedian’s joke about Jada Pinkett Smith.
Will Smith, Chris Rock 'stained' Oscars win for 'Summer of Soul,' producer says
Joseph Patel criticized Will Smith and Chris Rock for the events that led up to "Summer of Soul" winning the Oscar for best documentary feature Sunday night. The "Summer of Soul" producer accused Smith of robbing the category of its moment after he slapped Rock on stage before the comedian announced the award. "It robbed the category of its moment," the producer wrote in since-deleted tweets, People magazine noted.
Why Will Smith was left in disbelief over daughter Willow's drastic change to appearance
Will Smith is incredibly protective of his family, and on Sunday night shocked the world after slapping Chris Rock in the face at the Oscars after he made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith, who suffers from alopecia. MORE: Chris Rock celebrates exciting news in wake of the Oscars altercationHe has since issued an apology, and his family have all shown their support for him - with both Jada and his son Jaden speaking out.Just months before the incident, the award-winning actor released his memoir, Will, where he opened up about his family life - and some of the lessons he learnt through his children. One that stood out in particular was when his daughter Willow, 21, went to drastic measures to alter her own hair in a bid to stop touring.VIDEO: Will Smith prepares to take a dive into the deepest swimming pool on earthWillow gained global success following the release of her hit song Whip My Hair, and signed up for a month-long tour opening for Justin Bieber.MORE: Inside Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith's jaw-dropping £32.3million mansionMORE: Jada Pinkett-Smith breaks silence after husband Will Smith slapped Chris Rock The talented singer wasn't enjoying the tour and told her dad she wanted to stop at the end of the European leg of the trip.However, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star told his daughter that was not possible because she had upcoming dates in Australia. Will Smith reflected on daughter Willow shaving her hair to protest against going back on stageAs a result, Willow went to extreme lengths to ensure that she was heard.
Billy Crystal jokes about Will Smith’s Oscars slap during Broadway show
struck Rock, 57, during the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday night at the Dolby Theater while the latter was presenting the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.Crystal, who has hosted the Oscars several times over the years, gave his insight into the slap heard ’round the world.The “When Harry Met Sally” star, 74, joked about the slap during his curtain speech at a dress rehearsal for his upcoming Broadway show “Mr. Saturday Night” on Tuesday.“We got through a show and no one got slapped. Unbelievable,” he said.The play starts previews on March 30 and will officially open on April 27 at the Nederlander Theatre.
Will Smith would face little more than a slap if charged
LOS ANGELES -- Will Smith’s slap seen ’round the world at the Oscars was clearly a crime, legal experts say, but the chances of prosecution are slim and even if convicted he’d likely face little more than a slap of his own — on the wrist.Smith left millions of witnesses stunned Sunday when he marched onto the stage of the Dolby Theatre and smacked Chris Rock in the face after the comedian made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who was sitting with the actor in the front row.The Los Angeles Police Department has said it was aware of the incident but was not investigating because Rock declined to file a police report.While police could technically open an investigation based on the Academy Awards broadcast, they wouldn't do so without Rock’s participation, said defense lawyer Alan Jackson, a former Los Angeles County prosecutor who oversaw high-profile cases.“Would they ever in a practical world do that when Chris Rock is saying, ’I won’t cooperate with a criminal investigation?' Not in a million years,” Jackson said. “LAPD is probably breathing a relative sigh of relief that they don’t have to get involved with two high-profile actors duking it out on a world stage.”The Los Angeles city attorney’s office, which prosecutes misdemeanor crimes, declined to comment, but said it couldn't bring charges without a police referral.“If he’s going to be charged, I can’t speak to what the charge would be,” spokesman Rob Wilcox said.News of celebrities in trouble has been a fixture in LA since Hollywood's early days, and questions frequently arise about whether the rich and powerful receive a different brand of justice.“The celebrity thing is coming into play, unfortunately,” said former LA District Attorney Steve Cooley.
Jada Pinkett Smith breaks her silence following her husband’s infamous Oscars slap
Jada Pinkett Smith has finally given her two cents following the slap heard ‘round the world at the 94th Academy Awards.It’s been two days since Will Smith shocked the world at the Oscars on Sunday night, walking up onstage to slap comedian Chris Rock after he told a joke about his wife. While the Red Table Talk host didn’t address the situation specifically, she did take to Instagram today to post a message about her outlook on life. “This is a season for healing and I’m here for it,” the post reads.
Will Smith’s Post-Slap Oscars Acceptance Speech Spiked Audience by 600,000 Viewers
Jennifer Maas TV Business WriterViewership for Sunday’s Oscars on ABC grew by 511,000 viewers during the 15-minute time span that featured Will Smith slapping Chris Rock, according to Live + Same Day Nielsen data. While the Oscars’ audience dipped from there, it spiked again during Smith’s best actor win and acceptance speech shortly after 11 p.m. ET, this time by 614,000 viewers.The most-watched portion of the entire show was the 15 minutes between 9:15 p.m.
Oscars 2022 live: Will Smith’s apology to Chris Rock over Oscars slap divides internet
LIVE – Updated at 13:21This year’s Oscars featured shocks, sighs and surprises – but all anyone will care about is a slap. The Academy Awards took place on Sunday night, with films including The Power of the Dog, West Side Story, Licorice Pizza and Coda battling it out in the big categories. The biggest story of the night had almost nothing to do with the awards: a shocking altercation between Will Smith and Chris Rock sparked by a joke about Smith’s wife Jada.