Hollywood star Will Smith caused a stir at this year’s Oscars. The actor slapped comedian Chris Rock in the face on stage at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood after he made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Shortly thereafter, Smith won the Oscar for best actor for his role in “King Richard.”
In his acceptance speech, he tearfully attempted an apology. “You have to protect your family,” he said – just like his character Richard Williams did with his daughters Venus and Serena. “Art mimics life. I seem like the crazy father, like they said about Richard Williams. But love makes you do crazy things. My apologies to the Academy and my fellow nominees.” He hopes to be invited back, Smith said. He didn’t apologize to Chris Rock.
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Other winners of the evening were actress Jessica Chastain for best actress and Ariana DeBose for best supporting actress. The strip “Coda”, which was awarded as best film, caused a surprise. In addition, actor Troy Kotsur received the Oscar for best supporting actor.
Jane Campion also wrote Oscar history. The New Zealander became the first woman to win the director’s Oscar for the second time. Campion’s film “The Power of the Dog” had received twelve nominations – but there was nothing more than the director’s Oscar.