It’s almost a year since the infamous Slap was heard around the world – when host Chris Rock was belted by Will Smith on stage after making a joke about his wife’s baldness. In the last 10 minutes of her first comedy special since, the comedian addressed the incident and fans are curious to see how Jada Pinkett reacted to Chris Rocks Selective outrage on Netflix. It sounds like she wants to put it all behind her, but him? We’re not so sure.
How did Jada Pinkett Smith react to Selective outrage?
Sure Pinkett Smith hasn’t released a statement in response Selective outrage but sources close to her and her husband say they both want to put the attack behind them. “Jada hasn’t been a part of all of this other than being vilified,” an insider told People in an article published on March 6, 2023. “Chris is obsessed with her and has been for almost 30 years… Look where he chose to film his Netflix special Her hometown [of Baltimore]. Possessed.”
Chris Rock. Photo: Kirill Bichutsky/Netflix © 2023
Banned from attending future ceremonies for the next decade, Smith has repeatedly apologized for his behavior at the Oscars, which took place on March 27, 2022. He first shared a statement to Instagram the next day “Violence in all its forms are toxic. and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Oscars was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally. I want to publicly apologize to you Chris. I was out of line and 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.”
Smith continued: I also want to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the contestants and everyone watching around the world. I want to apologize to the Williams family and my King Richard family. I am deeply sorry that my behavior has tarnished what has otherwise been a wonderful journey for all of us. I am a work in progress.”
The Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences banned Smith from future events for the next ten years. In an open letter, the academy announced: “The board has decided, for a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, that Mr. Smith shall not be permitted to attend any academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to to the Oscars.” The Academy apologized to Rock, the rest of the Academy and the audience at the moment: “We want to express our deepest gratitude to Mr. Rock for maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances. We also want to thank our hosts, nominees, presenters and winners for their poise and grace during our broadcast.”
Chris Rock, Will Smith. Image: Myung Chun/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
For Jada’s part, she has expressed her desire for the two men to reconcile. On June 1, 2022, Pinkett Smith shared her thoughts on her husband’s attack on Rock, mentioning her alopecia, which is the medical term for hair loss and can be caused by a wide variety of medical conditions. “Given what I’ve been through with my own health and what happened at the Oscars, thousands have reached out to me with their stories. I’m taking this moment to give our alopecia family an opportunity to talk about what it’s like to have this condition and to inform people about what alopecia really is.” She then addressed her husband and Rock directly, urging them to reconcile. “Now, on Oscar night, my deepest hope is that these two intelligent, accomplished men have an opportunity to heal, speak out and reconcile. The state of the world today, we need them both. And indeed we all need each other more than ever. Until then, Will and I will continue to do what we have done for the past 28 years, and that is to continue to think about this thing called life together.”
During Selective outrage, which premiered on Netflix on March 4, 2023, Rock appeared to still harbor resentment for Smith and the attack; titled the special in direct reference to Smith. “Will Smith practices selective outrage,” he said. “Years ago, my wife told me to quit the Oscars because her husband wasn’t nominated for Concussion. And then her husband gives hell me a concussion … She starts it, I finish it. No one chooses this bitch.” It is the first time he has spoken publicly about the incident, after avoiding interviews and insisting he is not a victim.
“Will is embarrassed and hurt by what Chris said about him and his family in his Netflix special. He didn’t see it, but he had people tell him what Chris said,” a source told ET in March 2023. “It is everywhere when you look online and on social media, so Will and Jada have seen comments about it.”
The source added: “Will apologized to Chris and would like Chris to let it go. Will has worked on himself and he has been banned from the Oscars for 10 years. He feels that enough is enough and wants Chris to move on so that he and everyone else can too. Will is also upset that Netflix was a part of this, and thinks Chris insulting Jada again is below the belt. He is upset that Netflix gave Chris this platform to share these messages and finds it distasteful.” Although Fresh Prince of Bel-Air The actor still has a lot to say since he “felt terrible for so long” about beating Chris at the Oscars. “He has tried unsuccessfully to make amends in the best way he could with Chris.”
As for how the special has been received, sources say Rock isn’t worried about any backlash. “He said what he needed to say and makes no sense about the reaction anyway. He’s not worried,” an insider told People in a story published March 6, 2023. “People have been waiting for [Rock’s] reaction for a year… For the most part I think it was well received. People don’t expect sugar-coating from Chris Rock.”
Sure Pinkett Smith. Photo by Steve Granitz/FilmMagic
If you need a refresher on what happened at the 94th Academy Awards, here’s what happened. Rock made a comment about Jada being “GI Jane”, apparently referring to her shaved head. In response, Jada could be seen rolling her eyes. Will laughed at first, but within moments he could be seen walking on stage and the audience, who assumed it was all just part of the act, cheered and laughed before Smith put Rock across the face.
“Will Smith just beat the crap out of me,” Chris said in disbelief. In the distance, Will could be heard yelling, “Keep my wife’s name out of the f—king’s mouth” twice, and from then on the audience realized it wasn’t scripted, but a very real attack. A confused stone looked around apparently for guidance from the Oscar crew. “OK, it was the greatest night in television history.” You can watch the intense and truly uncomfortable uncensored broadcast here.
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