While Venus and Serena Williams have stayed quiet on actor Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards show on Sunday, the tennis duo’s father Richard Williams has come out to condemn violence “unless it’s in self defense.”
After striking Rock across the face, Smith took home an Oscar for his performance as Richard Williams in “King Richard.”
“We don’t know all the details of what happened,” Richard Williams said in a statement, according to NBC News. “But we don’t condone anyone hitting anyone else unless it’s in self-defense.”
The statement was issued through Richard’s son Chavoita LeSane, who’s been the 80-year-old’s spokesman since his father had a stroke.
“LeSane said his father was as surprised as anyone when Smith suddenly retaliated against Rock for making a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, at the Sunday spectacle,” NBC News reported, adding that LeSane “declined to go beyond his statement when asked for comment on Smith’s Oscar acceptance speech.”
Smith slapped Rock after the comedian made a crack about Smith’s wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith. Daily Wire entrainment writer Katie Jerkovich reported on the incident:
Jada, I love ya,” Rock told the audience. “G.I. Jane 2 movie, can’t wait to see it.”
The “Red Table Talk” host rolled her eyes and appeared to be upset.
Her husband, the “King Richard” star, looked like he too did not appreciate what appeared to be a remark about his wife’s alopecia battle.
The superstar actor got up out of his seat, walked right up on stage, and struck the comedian in the face. It didn’t appear to be a planned move.
“Will Smith just smacked the s*** outta me,” Rock told the audience after the assault.
“Keep my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth!” Smith yelled back at Rock.
“Wow, dude. It was a G.I. Jane joke,” the comedian said, before turning back to the award show.
Smith finally issued an apology to Rock on Monday evening.
“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive,” the 53-year-old actor captioned his post on Instagram, The Daily Wire reported. “My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.”
“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,” the actor added.”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.”
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Source: Dailywire
