• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Richard Williams says it's time to forgive Will Smith for Oscars slap

Home> Celebrity

Published 09:10 6 Mar 2023 GMT

Richard Williams says it's time to forgive Will Smith for Oscars slap

The father of Venus and Serena Williams has defended Will Smith ahead of the 95th Academy Awards.

Gregory Robinson

Gregory Robinson

The father of Venus and Serena Williams has said it’s time to forgive Will Smith after his outburst at the Oscars last year.

It’s hard to think about the Oscars without remembering the moment Smith, 54, stormed on stage and slapped comedian and presenter Chris Rock during the 94th Academy Awards.

The Men in Black star was offended after Rock made a comment about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s appearance by comparing her to G.I. Jane.

Advert

Smith apologised to Rock following the slap, but he was still given a 10-year ban from attending any Academy events or programmes.

The Fresh Prince star shared an Instagram Reel in July in which he said: '"Chris, I apologise to you. My behaviour was unacceptable. And I'm here whenever you're ready to talk."

The evening wasn’t all bad for Smith as he won his first Oscar for his role in King Richard, the biopic about Richard Williams and his iconic daughters.

Richard Williams has defended Will Smith.
ITV

Advert

Williams, 81, shared his support for Smith and said he doesn’t see anything ‘wrong’ with what happened on stage last year.

“I think he has done the best thing he needed to do, but I would never be disgusted with Mr Smith. Matter of fact, I appreciate Mr Smith,” he shared on Good Morning Britain.

When asked if he thought Smith was guilty of any wrongdoing during the Oscars, Williams responded: “I don’t see nothing wrong with that.”

He added: “It’s time for everyone to forgive Will Smith.”

Advert

Williams also called for the ban to be lifted, adding: “I’ll say my message to Mr Smith right now. Thank you very much for being so good looking, so handsome!”

Will Smith won the Best Actor award for his role in King Richard.
Entertainment Pictures / Alamy Stock Photo

Williams’ comments come as Rock finally addressed the infamous slap during his recent Netflix comedy special.

Rock took to the stage once again for Selective Outrage, in which he went on a tirade in having said 'everybody' calls the Fresh Prince star a 'b***h'.

Advert

As the audience roared with laughter, Rock says: "Y'all know what happened to me, getting smacked by 'Suge Smith'.

"I got smacked at the f***ing Oscars by this motherf**ker."

Rock went on to say that while the slap 'hurt', he didn't cry about it because he's 'not a victim'.

"You will never see me on Oprah or Gayle, crying," appearing to roast Smith's tearful apologies in the aftermath of his outburst.

Advert

"You will never see it, never gonna happen... I took that hit like [Manny] Pacquiao."

Featured Image Credit: WENN Rights Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo/REUTERS / Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: Will Smith, Chris Rock

Gregory Robinson
Gregory Robinson

Gregory is a journalist for UNILAD. After graduating with a master's degree in journalism, he has worked for both print and online publications and is particularly interested in TV, (pop) music and lifestyle. He loves Madonna, teen dramas from the '90s and prefers tea over coffee.

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

8 hours ago
a day ago
2 days ago
  • 8 hours ago

    Leonardo DiCaprio's girlfriend suffers wardrobe malfunction during Jeff Bezos' wedding as she reveals what happened

    Luckily, she didn't seem too fazed by it

    Celebrity
  • a day ago

    Glee star Cory Monteith's parents tragically die weeks apart following his death 12 years ago

    Cory died in 2013 shortly before filming began for Glee season five

    Celebrity
  • 2 days ago

    Eminem’s daughter Hailie Jade opens up about the 'struggle her dad faced’ as she reflects on her childhood

    The music legend's daughter Hailie Jade explored her father's struggles with fatherhood as she embarks on her own parenting journey

    Celebrity
  • 2 days ago

    Lauren Sánchez shares surprising detail from wedding to Jeff Bezos after invite leak had everyone saying the same thing

    Lauren Sánchez's wedding to Jeff Bezos featured a surprise that even the Amazon founder couldn't have predicted

    Celebrity
  • Will Smith called out for 'inappropriate' act with singer onstage during awards show
  • Chris Rock finally responds to Will Smith Oscars slap in scathing Netflix special
  • Chris Rock ‘had to go to counselling with daughter’ after Will Smith Oscars slap
  • 'Will Smith Slap' NFT Collection Listed For Staggering Price