What Will Smith did during the 94th Academy Awards shocked everyone. However, Jada Pinkett Smith initially thought the slap that her husband gave to Chris Rock on stage was a play.
In an interview with PEOPLE in 2023, the Red Table Talk star revealed what she first felt when the incident happened on the Academy Awards stage. The interview, which came at least 18 months after the I, Robot actor approached Chris Rock, was also tied to the promotion of Jada Pinkett Smith’s memoir Worthy.
During the interview, the Matrix actress said, “I thought, ‘This is an act.'” She then added that she couldn’t believe Will Smith hit Chris Rock at first. However, soon after, when the I Am Legend actor was walking back to his chair, Pinkett Smith realized that all of this was not part of an act but was completely real.
During the interview, Pinkett Smith also recalled the first words she said to Smith after the incident, asking the actor if he was OK.
Speaking further, the Set It Off actress revealed that she will stand by her husband while also allowing him to deal with the entire situation on his own.
Although Will Smith was allowed to keep the Best Actor award he won during the event, he was banned from attending Academy-related events for the next 10 years.
The Men in Black actor also addressed the incident in a video that same year, in 2022, and while speaking to Trevor Noah on The Daily Show in November 2022.
The actor recalled that “horrific night” and said that he was going through a situation before he lost control. However, he made it clear that he was not justifying his behaviour, as the actor also said that everyone should be nice to each other, as the world is very tough.
Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith got married in 1997. After the birth of their children, Jaden and Willow, they decided to live separate lives for seven years starting in 2016.
Will Smith won the Best Actor award for his amazing portrayal in the film King Richard at the 94th Academy Awards held in the year 2022.
Also read: Will Smith comments on Jada Pinkett Smith ahead of her movie release, says she’s the ‘most gangsta’
