Jada Pinkett Smith: Will Smith's Oscars slap on Chris Rock is 'His story to share'
Jada Pinkett Smith hints that the explanation behind Will Smith's Oscars slap on Chris Rock is a narrative best shared by Will himself.
Chris Rock and Will Smith (Source: The New York Times)
Jada Pinkett Smith remains discreet about the widely publicized incident involving the altercation between Will Smith and Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars. During an interview with CBS Mornings focused on her new memoir, "Worthy," Pinkett Smith carefully sidesteps delving into the reasons behind the confrontation, emphasizing that it's Will's personal story to share.
Reflecting on that evening, she shares her steadfast support for her husband, indicating her enduring commitment despite their revealed separation in 2016.
The Unscripted Moment
The whole thing went down when Chris Rock made this joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head, comparing it to Demi Moore in G.I. Jane while giving out the award for Best Documentary Feature. At first, Jada thought it was all part of a comedy skit for the show. She told PEOPLE last month, "I thought, 'This is a skit.' I was like, 'There's no way that Will hit him.' It wasn't until Will started heading back to his chair that I even figured out it wasn't a skit."
In the past year, Smith shared that he "lost it" in the intensity of the Oscars moment. Speaking on The Daily Show, the actor expressed, "You just don't know what's going on with people, and I was going through something that night." Following the incident, Smith reportedly attempted to "make amends" with Rock.
Unveiling the Quiet Separation
Pinkett Smith also delved into the couple's discreet separation and their public conversation about relationship challenges on Red Table Talk in 2020. She explained, "Will decided he wanted to come to the table," revealing that, at that specific time, they were not together, a detail she had chosen not to disclose earlier.
Pinkett Smith emphasized, "That was Will's choice. I think at that particular point in time, we were both going through a process of dissolving this idea of what a relationship should look like and really just be honest about the difficulties that come with being in a long-term relationship."
From the public blow-up to their behind-the-scenes struggles and those no-holds-barred discussions on Red Table Talk, the couple's story exposes layers of rawness. The conclusion is up in the air, suggesting that Jada and Will Smith's narrative is still unfolding with its fair share of challenges.