Los Angeles, March 29: Legendary tennis coach Richard Williams has condemned any violence unless “it is in self-defence” following actor Will Smith’s slap to comedian Chris Rock at Oscars 2022. Smith won Oscars on Sunday for 2021 American biopic sports drama ‘King Richard’ on the life of Richard Williams, the father and coach of famed tennis players Venus and Serena Williams, who were executive producers of the film. During the event at the Dolby Theatres, he had physically smacked presenter Chris Rock on the head for making the ill-advised joke about his wife Jada Pinkett’s alopecia.
Rock joked that she was set to make GI Jane 2 next, which led Smith to rush up on stage and try to hit Rock. Smith then told him not to use his wife’s name. Smith, went up on stage just to put the message across, as Rock body-shamed the “Aladdin” actor’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith. Speaking in an interview with NBC News, Richard, via his son Chavoita LeSane, said, “We don’t know all the details of what happened. But we don’t condone anyone hitting anyone else unless it’s in self-defense.” LeSane quoted his father saying that he was surprised at Smith’s retaliation against Rock for making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith. However, they did not comment on ‘The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’ actor’s acceptance speech wherein he said, “I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things.” Later, he issued a public apology to Chris Rock, the Academy, Williams Family and ‘King Richard Family’ for his behaviour.
UNI
