• 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
Zoë Kravitz speaks out about 'scary' backlash over her reaction to Will Smith's Oscars slap

Home> Celebrity

Updated 12:20 17 Aug 2022 GMT+1Published 12:16 17 Aug 2022 GMT+1

Zoë Kravitz speaks out about 'scary' backlash over her reaction to Will Smith's Oscars slap

The Batman actress, 33, admitted she wished that she 'had handled it differently'.

Lisa McLoughlin

Lisa McLoughlin

Zoe Kravitz has spoken out about the backlash she faced after commenting on Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at this year’s Oscars.

At the time, the incident sparked a storm of discourse online, inviting opinions from comedians, actors and other celebrities across the world, as well as being the source of hundreds of memes.

In the aftermath, the Batman star took to Instagram and shared two images from the cinematic event, with the caption: "Here's a picture of my dress at the award show where we are apparently assaulting people on stage now.

"And here is a picture of my dress at the party after the award show - where we are apparently screaming profanities and assaulting people on stage now."

Zoë Kravitz condemned Smith for the slap.
Alamy Stock Photo

Advert

A commenter then asked if the Big Little Lies actor supported Smith defending his wife after Rock made a joke about her hair, to which she responded with a one-word: “Nope”.

Following her commentary, her name began trending on Twitter and social media users relentlessly came for the 33-year-old by digging into her past for so-called problematic moments.

They predominately took issue with her past romance with troubled star Ezra Miller, as well as her friendship with Alexander Wang, who has faced a slew of sexual assault allegations, which the designer has denied.

In the midst of the social media storm, comments Zoe made about a then-underage Jaden Smith resurfaced and were labelled ‘inappropriate’ by users.

Advert

Now addressing the controversy for the first time, Kravitz said she wished that she 'had handled that differently.'

Speaking with WSJ. Magazine, she shared: “I’m torn about what to say right now, because I’m supposed to just talk about it; I have very complicated feelings around it. I wish I had handled that differently. And that’s OK.

“It’s a scary time to have an opinion or to say the wrong thing or to make controversial art or statements or thoughts or anything.

“It’s mostly scary because art is about conversation. That should, in my opinion, always be the point. The internet is the opposite of conversation. The internet is people putting things out and not taking anything in.”

Advert

Kravitz shared that she’s now taking the approach not to 'express myself through a caption or a tweet' choosing to let her work speak for her.

Will Smith publicly apologised to Chris Rock last late month in a YouTube video.
Will Smith/YouTube

She added: "I was reminded that I’m an artist. Being an artist is not about everybody loving you or everyone thinking you’re hot. It’s about expressing something that will hopefully spark a conversation or inspire people or make them feel seen."

Kravitz's candour comes after Smith publicly apologised to Chris Rock for slapping him at the 94th Oscars via YouTube late last month.

Advert

It was the first time that Smith has addressed the now infamous incident that led to him being banned from Academy events for 10 years.

In a video titled 'It's been a minute', the King Richard star explained: "I was fogged out by that point. It's all fuzzy. I've reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that he's not ready to talk. And when he is, he will reach out.

"So I will say to you, Chris, I apologise to you. My behaviour was unacceptable and I'm here whenever you're ready to talk."

If you have a story you want to tell, send it to UNILAD via [email protected] 

Featured Image Credit: REUTERS / Alamy Stock Photo

Topics: Celebrity, Will Smith

Lisa McLoughlin
Lisa McLoughlin

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

9 hours ago
10 hours ago
13 hours ago
  • 9 hours ago

    Robert Irwin forced to apologize after controversial act at popular restaurant

    Fans couldn't believe Irwin's response after his mistake

    Celebrity
  • 9 hours ago

    Michael Douglas shares heartbreaking reason he's quit acting for good

    The star is not expected to reprise his role as the beloved Hank Pym in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday

    Celebrity
  • 10 hours ago

    Fan fears for Justin Bieber grow as singer shares 'detox' selfie on social media

    Some fans issued comforting messages while others were concerned

    Celebrity
  • 13 hours ago

    TV presenter diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease details ‘silly’ test she did that revealed sinister symptoms

    She previously believed she was just going through menopause after hearing other celebrities' stories

    Celebrity
  • Will Smith's Mum Reacts To Chris Rock Oscars Slap
  • Amy Schumer Speaks Out After Being Trolled For Calling Will Smith's Oscars Slap 'Traumatising'
  • Netflix's 'stunning' new number one movie starring Margot Robbie and Will Smith has viewers 'watching five times over'
  • Andrew Garfield Appears To Recreate Will Smith's Oscars Slap While Leaving Ceremony