WThe 2022 Academy Awards was a difficult night for ill Smith. He won his first Oscar for his lead performance as Venus and Serena Williams’ father, Richard Williams, in King Richard. Smith’s speech was largely unscripted, and focused on a disturbing incident that happened earlier in the evening when Smith came up to the stage and hit Chris Rock. Smith had taken offense at a joke the comedian told about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith. “Love makes you do crazy things,” he said during his speech. He stated that he was standing up for his family.
Rock joked about the actors present before presenting the Oscars for Best Documentary. Pinkett Smith was one of the jokes Rock made about him. He stated that Pinkett Smith was looking forward seeing him in action. G.I. Jane sequel. Pinkett Smith has spoken openly about her struggles with alopecia in the past and was sporting a buzzcut to the Oscars. At the joke, she rolled her eyes. Smith, even though she initially tried to be funny, eventually got on stage with the comedian. “Keep my wife’s name our of your f-cking mouth,” Smith said to Rock twice.
Smith was emotional when Smith received the Best Actor Oscar. “Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family. In this time in my life, in this moment, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world,” Smith said.
“I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people. I want to be a light to others. And I know to do what we do, you’ve got to be able to take abuse, and you’ve got be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business, you’ve got to be able to have people disrespecting you and you’ve got to smile and pretend like that’s okay.”
Denzel Washington called Smith to Smith at this point of the speech. Washington had comforted Smith during a commercial breakAfter the slap. “Denzel said to be a few minutes ago, at your highest moment, be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you,” Smith said. “I want to be a vessel for love.”
He thanked Venus, Serena Williams and their families, as well the cast and crew. He apologized to the entire audience for his conduct. “I want to apologize to the Academy. I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees,” he said.
Smith then went back to the similarities between Smith and the father-of-the tennis stars. “Just like they said, I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things,” he said.
He thanked his mother, whom he said was watching in Philadelphia with her “knitting crew,” and he thanked his wife. “I’m taking up too much time. We are grateful for the honor. Also, thank you for taking the time to be here. Thank you,” he concluded. “I hope the Academy invites me back.”
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