“Violence in any form is toxic and destructive. My behavior at the Academy Awards yesterday was unacceptable and unforgivable. Jokes at my own expense are part of it, but a joke about Jada’s condition was too much for me and I reacted emotionally,” Smith writes. “I would like to offer my public apologies to Chris. What I did was not possible and I was doing it wrong. I am ashamed of what I have done and this action does not represent the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in this world of love and kindness.”
Also in the message, Smith apologizes to the Academy, the show’s producers, everyone in attendance and everyone who watched the show worldwide. He also apologizes to the Williams family and the ‘King Richard Family’. He concludes his message by saying that he will “keep working on himself”.
Academy starts formal investigation
The Academy, the organization behind the Oscars, announced yesterday a formal investigation to initiate the incident. “We will investigate further implications in accordance with our statutes, standards of conduct and California law,” it said. Chris Rock had announced earlier in the day that he would not press charges against Smith.
Smith punched Rock in the face on stage during the Oscars ceremony after the host made a joke about the actor’s wife. Jada Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia, severe hair loss. “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth,” Will Smith shouted at host Chris Rock twice. Shortly thereafter, Smith won the Best Actor award for his role in King Richard† Tears rolled down his cheeks during his acceptance speech and he already apologized to the Academy, but not yet to Rock.
Ticket sales comedy show in the elevator
The incident between Rock and Smith is very positive for the comedian from a business point of view. Rock kicks off his comedy tour this week and saw ticket sales skyrocket within hours after the Oscars.
Rock kicks off on March 30 with tryouts of his show in Boston and officially kicks off on April 2 with his ‘Ego Death World Tour’. The comedian travels to more than 30 cities in the United States on his tour, which he is doing for the first time in five years.
According to a spokesperson for TickPick, one of the largest ticket sellers in the US, more tickets were sold for Rock’s show after the Oscar incident than in the entire month before. Prices have also skyrocketed: where the cheapest ticket cost 41 euros on March 18, visitors now pay no less than 310 euros for it. And according to TickPick, the tickets are flying out the door, despite the price increase.
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