During the 2018 Oscars, Jimmy Kimmel’s opening monologue generated significant controversy on social media. Kimmel, who was hosting the ceremony for the third time, made several biting remarks that outraged some viewers. One viewer commented that “the jokes go way too far!” Kimmel took aim at a range of celebrities, including Will Smith, who was particularly targeted in his monologue. Kimmel’s jokes were widely shared on social media, and some viewers went so far as to brand him a “national disgrace.” However, the controversy surrounding Kimmel’s monologue was not the only source of drama at the Oscars that year.
Chris Rock, who had previously hosted the ceremony, was slapped by Will Smith, which resulted in Smith being banned from the Oscars for ten years. Despite Smith’s attempts to make amends, Rock revealed that he would not be returning to host the Oscars again.
Actor Will Smith has issued a public apology to his fans, family, and Chris Rock for slapping the comedian at the 2005 Oscars ceremony. In a recent video posted to his YouTube channel, Smith acknowledged the incident and took responsibility for his actions. He also apologized to his mother, father, and brother, who were present at the event and witnessed the incident. Smith explained that he had spent the past few months reflecting on the situation and recognizing the complexities and nuances of what happened that day. He admitted that he was in the wrong and that his behavior was not the optimal way to handle feelings of disrespect or insults.
Rumors circulated that Smith’s wife, Jada Smith, had influenced his decision to slap Rock. However, Smith vehemently denied these claims and said that he had acted on his own. He also expressed regret for the negative attention and heat that the incident brought on him, his family, and Rock. Smith’s public apology is his third since the incident, with the previous apologies being made after he won his Oscar and in an Instagram post.
In the aftermath of the incident, Rock faced backlash for a joke he made at the Oscars, referencing Jada Smith’s shaved head. Jada has been vocal about her struggles with alopecia, an autoimmune disorder that causes bald spots and hair loss. Smith’s outburst after the slap was heard around the world, with him shouting, “keep my wife’s name out of your ***king mouth!” upon returning to his seat. The incident has haunted Smith for years, and he finally decided to address it publicly after months of reflection.
Meanwhile, Rock has also revealed that he turned down an offer to host the Oscars again next year. The comedian likened returning to host the Oscars to asking Nicole Brown Simpson to go back to the restaurant where she left her glasses before being killed. His decision not to host again comes after he faced criticism for his past comments and jokes made during the ceremony.
The fallout from the infamous slap that comedian Chris Rock received from actor Will Smith’s entourage in 2012 is still being talked about years later. During his UK tour, Rock revealed to audiences that the slap was in response to a joke he made about Smith. The incident has also been addressed by Rock’s fellow comedian Dave Chappelle, who spoke about it during a joint show at London’s O2 Arena. In his recent Netflix special “Selective Outrage,” Rock also made jokes about the incident, making it clear that Smith was still front and center of the focus. The incident even made its way into Jimmy Kimmel’s Oscars monologue, with Kimmel joking about the possibility of violence at the ceremony.
However, Kimmel’s joke involving Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai sparked controversy and criticism online, with some viewers drawing comparisons to the disrespectful behavior exhibited towards Smith after the slap incident.