LOS ANGELES, March 27 (Reuters) – – Will Smith received his first Academy Award on Sunday, moments after a shocking incident through which he smacked presenter Chris Rock on stage for making a joke about his spouse and twice shouted a vulgarity.
Smith captured the perfect actor honor for his portrayal of Richard Williams, the decided father who raised tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams, in “King Richard.”
Smith, 53, considered one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, had been nominated twice earlier than, for 2001’s “Ali” and 2006 film “The Pursuit of Happyness.”
“I wish to apologize to the Academy. I wish to apologize to all my fellow nominees,” Smith mentioned in a tear-filled acceptance speech, with out apologizing to Rock.
In “King Richard” he depicted Richard Williams and his unconventional technique for elevating his daughters from a municipal park in a hardscrabble Los Angeles neighborhood to Centre Courtroom at Wimbledon.
“Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his household,” Smith mentioned, in reference to him defending his spouse after Rock made a joke about her brief hair.
Jada Pinkett Smith informed Billboard in December she has been battling the autoimmune dysfunction alopecia, which may trigger hair loss and balding.
Will Smith accepts the Oscar for Greatest Actor in “King Richard” on the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 27, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
Smith walked on stage towards Rock, who had his palms behind his again when Smith threw an open hand at his face that produced an audible smack.
Smith then shouted, “Preserve my spouse’s identify out of your fucking mouth,” which he later repeated.
Smith shot to fame within the Nineties within the tv sitcom “The Recent Prince of Bel-Air” and took on largely comedy and motion roles early in his film profession earlier than increasing into drama.
He earned his first Oscar nomination for taking part in skilled boxer Muhammad Ali and his second for portraying one other actual individual, Chris Gardner, a onetime homeless father who went on to discovered his personal brokerage agency.
Isha Worth, considered one of Venus and Serena’s three older half-sisters, was an early collaborator on the “King Richard” script, offering particulars and recollections that made the film the story of the household.
Venus and Serena Williams joined the mission as government producers solely after they watched the finished movie. Richard Williams has been in unwell well being for years and didn’t participate.
“It’s terrifying if you play an actual individual that’s nonetheless alive, and you realize that they’ll see it,” Smith informed late evening TV host Jimmy Fallon in November.
Reporting by Daniel Trotta; Modifying by Lisa Richwine, Sandra Maler and Howard Goller
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