Will Packer Reacts To Will Smith's Public Apology To Chris Rock
Will Packer, who produced this year’s Academy Awards, has reacted to Will Smith’s public apology to Chris Rock for slapping him at the awards show.
Packer told Entertainment Tonight, "I love the fact that he's being so transparent about his process.He is being very public and honest and open about his remorse."
He continued, "I think that he's got three decades in this business of being somebody that is the exact opposite of who he was in those few seconds, and so I'm pulling for him.”
Last month, Will Smith said in a five-minute social media video that he didn’t apologize to Rock during his acceptance speech for Best Actor because “I was fogged out at that point. It’s all fuzzy.” He revealed he did reach out to Rock and “the message that came back is that he’s not ready to talk and when he is, he will reach out.”
He then apologized to Rock and said his behavior was “unacceptable and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.”
Smith also apologized to Rock’s mother and family, “I spent the last three months replaying and understanding the nuance and complexity of what happened in that moment. I’m not going to try to unpack all of that right now, but I can say to all of you, there is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment.”
During the Oscars, and just before presenting the award for the documentary feature category, Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith, saying, “Jada, I love you. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it.” Rock’s joke was regarding Jada’s close-shaved head, a possible result of her recent struggles with the hair condition alopecia.
G.I. Jane was a 1997 film starring Demi Moore, who played a character that shaved her hair off during a vigorous U.S. Navy program. The popular film tackled sexism in the military.
After the joke, Smith walked on stage and slapped Rock. He returned to his seat and shouted at the comedian “keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth.” Within the hour, Smith won the Oscar for best actor for his portrayal of Venus and Serena Williams’ father Richard Williams in King Richard.
