Ever since Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, everyone and their grandmother has taken to social media to weigh in on the matter. Some people still think it was all an act, while others stand firm on either side of a dividing line about who’s to blame. With so many opinions flying through the air like an open-palmed face relocator, some question the Oscar crowd’s response to the incident, including Jim Carrey.
The response refers to the moment when Smith won the Best Actor award for his performance in King Richard shortly after slapping Rock’s face. During what I’m sure was an awkward moment for many, many in attendance gave Smtih a standing ovation that lasted several minutes.
While talking with CBS’ Gayle King (via HuffPost), Carrey said, “I was sickened” by the crowd’s reaction. “I was sickened by the standing ovation. Hollywood is just spineless en masse, and it really felt like this is a really clear indication that we aren’t the cool club anymore.” In Carrey’s opinion, Smith “should’ve been” escorted off the premises after he slapped Rock. King pointed out to Carrey that Rock declined to press charges against Smith for the incident, but Carrey thinks it’s because Rock didn’t “want the hassle.”
“I’d have announced this morning that I was suing Will for $200 million because that video is going to be there forever. It’s going to be ubiquitous,” Carrey said. “That insult is gonna last a very long time. If you want to yell from the audience and show disapproval or say something on Twitter [that’s fine]. But you do not have the right to walk up on stage and smack somebody in the face because they said words.”
Carrey went on, “[The slap] came out of nowhere because Will has something going on inside him that’s frustrated. I wish him the best. I have nothing against Will Smith. He’s done great things, but that was not a good moment. It cast a shadow over everyone’s shining moment last night. It was a selfish moment.”
In the wake of the slap, Smith has apologized to both Rock and the Academy for his actions. In the statement, Smith expressed a tremendous amount of regret for his impulsive actions and said this is not the man he wants to be. As a byproduct of the theatrical event, Rock noted that ticket sales for his comedy shows have increased as fans continue to show their support of his part in the matter.
What do you think of Carrey’s assessment of the situation? Should people have given Smith a standing ovation for his historic Best Actor win? How much of that gesture was motivated by his attack on Rock versus the achievement itself? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.