Wanda Sykes revealed that Chris Rock apologized to her after being hit onstage by Will Smith at the Academy Awards.
Sykes appeared as a guest in The Ellen DeGeneres Show and discussed how the incident unfolded from her point of view as Oscars host. When she found out about it backstage, the actress and comedian told DeGeneres that she felt awful for her friend Chris.
.@iamWandaSykes was here today and shared some thoughts about #Oscar night. pic.twitter.com/i5tj8sYbIB
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) March 30, 2022
I hope he doesn’t mind me saying this, but I saw Chris at Guy Oseary’s after party and as soon as I walked up to him, the first thing he said is, ‘I’m so sorry.’ I was like, ‘Why are you apologizing?’ He was like, ‘It was supposed to be your night. You and Amy and Regina were doing such a great job. I’m so sorry this is now gonna be about this.’ ” said the fellow comedian and actress. “Because that’s who Chris is,” added Sykes.
Sykes described the altercation as “sickening,” adding that she felt physically ill and is still traumatized by it. And the fact that the Smiths stayed for the rest of the show was simply disgusting and disrespectful.
Sykes ended the subject by saying she feels like she and her co-hosts deserve an apology for Will Smith’s actions.
About Will Smith’s apology
Will Smith hit Chris Rock onstage after a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, was made. Rock refused to press charges and even joked about it, saying, “that’s the only time you can take a hit from Muhhamed Ali and not get a scar,” referring to his role in the boxer’s biopic.
Will apologized on Monday, saying, “Violence, in all of its manifestations, is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at the Academy Awards last night was both unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes about my medical condition are part of the job, but one about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear, and I reacted emotionally.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CbqmaY1p7Pz/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=e12297a6-c94b-4f06-bf77-f92ebf94da18
“I would like to publicly apologize 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,” he continued. “I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress” wrote Smith.
