Featured Image Credit: Hotboxin' With Mike Tyson/Alamy
Topics: Mike Tyson, Will Smith, Celebrity, Oscars, Chris Rock
Abbi Murray
Topics: Mike Tyson, Will Smith, Celebrity, Oscars, Chris Rock
Mike Tyson and Ric Flair are among the latest celebrities to weigh in on the Will Smith drama, with Flair even claiming that the slap was staged.
More than a week has passed since Will Smith’s violent outburst at the Oscars, but that doesn’t mean people are done talking about it.
Despite viral footage showing Rock’s genuine reaction immediately after the incident, and Smith giving a tearful acceptance speech apology, people still believe the slap was fake.
WWE icon Ric Flair is one of those people, as he reckons the whole thing was planned.
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In an interview with The New York Post, the professional wrestler said: “I didn’t think it was real."
He later joined Mike Tyson on his podcast, Hotboxin’, where they continued to discuss the incident.
Tyson stated: "If Ric says it’s a fake, then it’s a fake." Flair added: “I can speak for myself, and I’m pretty sure I’m speaking for Mike.
"If I didn’t like a remark, for any reason whatsoever, that somebody said about my wife, I would be punching them — not slapping them."
Iron Mike added: “It would be more than one punch, too.”
Tyson then sent a message to Smith, jokingly urging him to eat his Mike Bites cannabis edibles – which are shaped like Evander Holyfield’s bitten ear.
The 55-year-old said: “I think Will needs to eat some of these Mike Bites and just chill out. It’s okay."
Last weekend, it was announced that Smith had resigned from the Academy.
As per The Hollywood Reporter, his statement read: "I am resigning from membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate.
"Change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason."
David Rubin, President of the Academy, issued his own statement, suggesting that disciplinary action could still be on the cards for Smith.
In a statement, he said: "We have received and accepted Mr. Will Smith’s immediate resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
"We will continue to move forward with our disciplinary proceedings against Mr. Smith for violations of the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, in advance of our next scheduled board meeting on April 18."
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