Trevor Noah opened the sixty fourth Annual Grammy Awards by alluding to Will Smith’s controversial slap of Chris Rock throughout final Sunday’s Oscars. The Grammys happened only one week after the Academy Awards, the place Smith took to the stage and slapped Rock after the comic made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head whereas presenting the documentary function class.
“Don’t even assume of this as an award present,” Noah mentioned in regards to the ceremony. “It’s a live performance the place we’re giving out awards, we can be listening to music, dancing, sing, retaining people’s names out of our mouths and we’re going to give individuals awards all all through the night time. So let’s get straight into it.”
Questlove additionally addressed Will Smith’s slap whereas presenting the Grammy for music of the 12 months, saying, “All proper, I’m going to current this award and I belief that you just individuals will keep 500 ft away from me. As they are saying it is much better to provide than to obtain. Well, I’m not so positive about that as a result of final Sunday it felt fairly good to obtain.” Questlove received the Oscar for documentary function proper after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock.
Both Smith and Rock mentioned the incident themselves within the days after the Oscar ceremony. Smith apologized to Rock on March 28. The actor printed an announcement on social media, writing, “My conduct ultimately night time’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. … I wish to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I used to be out of line and I used to be mistaken. I’m embarrassed and my actions weren’t indicative of the person I need to be.”
Rock waited till his March 30 stand-up comedy present in Boston to handle the slap publicly, though the comic principally stayed away from speaking in regards to the incident. Rock informed the viewers, “I haven’t got a bunch of shit about what occurred, so when you got here to listen to that, I’ve a complete present I wrote earlier than this weekend. I’m nonetheless form of processing what occurred. So, sooner or later I’ll speak about that shit. And it is going to be critical and humorous.”
Mixed reviews have since surfaced about how the Academy and Oscars producers ought to’ve dealt with the incident throughout the ceremony. The Academy claimed it requested Smith to depart, however the actor refused. However, sources informed Variety that Smith was by no means formally requested to exit the occasion. Oscars producer Will Packer informed Good Morning America that he requested the Academy to not “bodily take away” Smith from the premises as a result of it was not what Rock wished. Although LAPD was reportedly able to arrest Smith, Rock declined to press expenses or file a report.
Smith introduced April 1 that he was resigning from the Academy. He nonetheless faces “suspension, expulsion or different sanctions” from the Academy, which condemned his violent actions following the Oscars. The subsequent Academy board assembly is scheduled for April 18. – Reuters
