“My conduct at the Academy Awards yesterday was unacceptable and inexcusable,” Smith wrote on Instagram Monday. “Jokes at my expense are part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s health was too much for me to take and I reacted emotionally.”
Smith wrote that he wanted to apologize to Rock, the organizers of the Oscars, the audience and everyone involved in the film “King Richard”. The incident is embarrassing for him.
Rock made a gag about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett at Sunday night’s show in Los Angeles, prompting Smith to rush onto the stage and slap the comedian in the face. After that, he returned to his seat and shouted twice more in Rock’s direction: “Keep my wife’s name out of your damn mouth!” Smith went on to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in King Richard.
Academy initiates investigation
The organizers of the Oscars condemned Smith’s actions and announced that they would consider the consequences. “The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at yesterday’s show,” said a statement from the organizers on Monday, which was available to the German Press Agency. “We have officially started a formal investigation into the incident and will be reviewing further proceedings and consequences.”
Source: Nachrichten
