Pedro Almodóvaris taking issue withWill Smith’s acceptance speech at the 2022 Academy Awards.
The Spanish film director, 72, wrote an awards-week diary forIndieWire, in which addressed the altercation between Will, 53, andChris Rock, where theKing Richardstar struck theSaturday Night Livealum, 57, after he made a joke about Smith’s wife,Jada Pinkett Smith, during the awards ceremony.
“What I saw and heard produced a feeling of absolute rejection in me,” wrote the Oscar winner of watching Will smack Rock in the face.
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Will later went on to accept the Best Actor award in the ceremony. Almodóvar described his speech as one “that seemed more like that of a cult leader,” given that Will, at one point in his speech, said: “At your highest moment, be careful. That’s when the devil comes for you.”
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“You don’t defend or protect the family with your fists, and no, the devil doesn’t take advantage of key moments to do his work,” Almodóvar wrote in response. “The devil, in fact, doesn’t exist. This was a fundamentalist speech that we should neither hear nor see.”
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While presenting on Sunday, Rock took a moment to crack a few jokes, including one about Jada’s shaved head. The comedian compared her appearance to that ofDemi Moore’s look inG.I. Jane.
Back at his table, Will shouted to a stunned Rock: “Keep my wife’s name out of your f—–g mouth.” Smith remained seated with his wife at his table for the rest of the night. Rock declined to press charges.
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Will lateracknowledged the moment in his acceptance speechafter winning Best Actor for his performance asVenusandSerena Williams' father Richard Williams inKing Richard.
“I know to do what we do you gotta be able to take abuse; you gotta be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business you gotta be able to have people disrespecting you, and you gotta smile and pretend like that’s okay.”
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Will also compared himself to hisKing Richardcharacter as a “fierce defender of his family.”
The actor then addressed the incident directly, offering an apology to the Academy and his fellow nominees for the incident — but failed to mention Rock.
“I want to apologize to the Academy. I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees,” he said.
Will, who was previously nominated forAliandThe Pursuit of Happyness, then noted, “Art imitates life: I look like the crazy father. Just like they said about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things.”
He later added, “Being able to love and care for my mother and my family, my wife … Thank you for this honor. Thank you for this moment. … I hope the Academy invites me back.”
Will hassince apologized to Rock, writing in a lengthy Instagram post on Monday, “I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. 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,” he added.
source: people.com
