BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 24: (L-R) Aunjanue Ellis and Will Smith are seen backstage during the 2022 15th Annual ESSENCE Black Women In Hollywood Awards Luncheon at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on March 24, 2022 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE); Chris Rock speaks onstage at the 94th Academy Awards held at Dolby Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland Center on March 27th, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Chris Polk/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images)
When Will Smith assaulted host Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards, it was the slap seen ’round the world. Smith took home the Academy Award for Best Actor that evening for his role in ‘King Richard’ and his co-star in the film, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, recently defended his Oscars’ slap during a new interview.
In an interview with The Daily Beast, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor recalled the Oscars’ slap. Additionally, she defended Smith for standing up for his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
The ‘Bad Boys’ star smacked Rock across the face in a shocking moment on live television after the host made a joke about Jada’s bald head. The ‘Set It Off’ actress has alopecia, and she was rocking her shaved head as she sat with Smith in the audience. The Oscars’ slap was debated for months afterward, and now, Ellis-Taylor has shared her two cents. The actress said that Smith protected his wife, and she stood with him.
“I know that he wanted to protect his wife, and I stand by that, she said. I stand with him for that. I think that this idea that First Amendment rights should protect everybodyI dont think it should necessarily protect a*sholes…. I really dont.”
Ellis-Taylor added that she enjoyed working with Smith while noting his protective treatment of everyone on the set. She also said Smith “took money out of his own pocket” to double the pay of the entire cast.
“Will certainly took care of everybody,” she added. “He just would not allow anybody to be treated poorly in his presence. He just would not allow it.”
“I cannot tell you how rare that is in this job, the actress continued, adding that number-one stars on the call sheet use it as a reason “to be a*sholes and for them to be method and just not give a f*ck about anybody. They see it as permission to do that. They see it as their right to do that. And thats not how he was at all. So I will always have a great deal of affection and care for him because he acted that way, and not just with me, with everybody.”
In addition, the actress told The Independent that Smith got her pay doubled for ‘King Richard after she told him her salary. Not only that, but Smith “doubled the pay of everybody on the cast. And he took money out of his own pocket to do that, he didnt go the studio route.”
Taylor’s comments prompted fans to react on social media, and several folks agreed with the ‘Lucky’ actress while others criticized her remarks.
On Threads, User @kiki_forevermore30 noted, “Look I understand where shes coming from with this. I really do and to a very certain extent I agree with her. However by slapping Chris Rock, Will Smith made the entire Oscar night selfishly about himself. he made a complete a*s out of himself by attacking someone smaller than him.”
On X, @aunjanuejlt wrote, “No ma’am. No violence is worth that -especially in that setting. Will had the chance to use that podium to enlighten the world to what his wife was going through making Chris look like the a*hole in everyone’s eyes but his insecurities got in the way.”
X user @TypeLambily disagreed. Furthermore, the user double-downed on the Oscars slap. “We all stand by Will Smith its protect Black women until one actually does. Chris rock is not funny and has few moments where his been funny. Matter of fact he needs another slap.”
@TavyTavy86 added, “So she defends resorting to violence because of a joke. What a disappointment.”
As Smith sat next to his wife at the 2022 Academy Awards, host Chris Rock made a joke about Jada that went over well…. at first. “Jada, I love you,” said Rock. “GI Jane 2. Can’t wait to see it.”
Evvvvverybody laughed at the joke, including Will Smith. Jada even seemed to crack a smile for a split second before rolling her eyes when all of the sudden, Smith jumped up on stage as a surprised Rock joked, “Oh oh!”Rock continued to laugh right up until Smith slapped him across the face… hard.
“Oh wow,” Rock exclaimed. “Wow! Will Smith just smacked the sh*t out of me.”
After that, Smith popped off again as audience members clutched their diamonds and pearls.“Take my wifes name out of your f*ckin’ mouth,” he yelled from his seat. “Keep my wifes name out your f*ckin’ mouth!” Amazingly, Rock went on with the show, and Smith took home the Best Actor Oscar. However, Smith was later banned from the Oscars for 10 years.
