Jada Pinkett Smith advocated for “healing” Tuesday, less than 48 hours after her husband, Will Smith, slapped Chris Rock on stage at the 2022 Oscars.
“This is a season for healing and I’m here for it,” read a graphic that Pinkett Smith posted on Instagram.
Pinkett Smith, 50, has kept a fairly low profile amid the backlash Smith, 53, has received. She posted videos of herself showing off the emerald green Jean Paul Gaultier couture gown that she donned for the big night, but she has yet to directly address the actor’s shocking actions.
The “Red Table Talk” host, who suffers from alopecia and shaved her head last summer, was the butt of Rock’s joke Sunday night as he compared her to Demi Moore’s bald-headed character “G.I. Jane” at the Academy Awards.
Smith initially laughed off the razz, but after turning to see his wife rolling her eyes and looking agitated, he marched on stage and smacked a confused and stunned Rock, 57.
“Keep my wife’s name out of your f–king mouth,” the “Bad Boys” star screamed at the comedian after returning to his seat.
Smith’s loved ones have stood by him throughout the turmoil, with son Jaden Smith, pal Jordyn Woods and his mom, sister and ex-wife all sharing how proud they were of his Best Actor win for “King Richard.”
Smith apologized to the Academy and his fellow nominees during his acceptance speech. At the time, he notably left out Rock’s name, but he has since issued a formal apology.
“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,” Smith wrote in his statement issued Monday. “I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”
The “Hitch” star explained that Rock’s joke about his wife’s baldness “was too much for [him] to bear,” causing him to react “emotionally.”
Meanwhile, the Academy said it is investigating the incident in a “formal review” that will “explore further action and consequences.”
It is unclear whether one of those consequences could be stripping Smith of his Oscar, but Whoopi Goldberg, the governor of the Academy’s Actors branch, claimed the trophy will safely remain in his possession.
“We’re not going to take that Oscar from him,” she said on “The View” Monday.
“There will be consequences, I’m sure, but I don’t think that’s what they’re going to do, particularly because Chris said, ‘Listen, I’m not pressing any charges.’”
