The 2022 Oscars brought Will Smith his highest high and lowest low.
Smith finally won Best Actor for playing Richard Williams in King Richard after previous losses for Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness. But his triumph was overshadowed when he slapped Chris Rock onstage after the comedian made a G.I. Jane joke about Jada Pinkett Smith.
When the Associated Press recently asked about his 10-year Oscars ban and any appeal plans, Smith replied: “I am looking to be the best human I can possibly be, and I’m gonna take what I get with that.”
After the incident, Smith resigned from the Academy, accepting “any and all consequences.” He apologized to Rock multiple times – in his resignation speech, an open letter, and a later video where he revealed Rock wasn’t ready to speak with him.
“My behavior was unacceptable and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk,” Smith said in the video.
When recently asked about possibly hosting the Oscars again, Rock didn’t rule it out: “You never know. This is what I would say, the most miserable people on earth are people that can’t forgive. And not just people, you have to forgive yourself sometimes, too. So, hey, you never know.”
“I live in forgiveness,” Rock added. “True love starts at forgiveness.”
