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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has claimed that it asked Will Smith to leave Sunday’s Oscars ceremony after he slapped Chris Rock. However, sources close to the situation are refuting that the actor was ever formally urged to leave the show. It appears that in the chaos that surrounded the altercation, the Academy and the show’s producer sent mixed message about whether Smith should be expelled from the event.
In an update about pending disciplinary action against Smith on Wednesday, the organization said that Smith “refused” to leave the Dolby Theater. He went on to win the best actor award for his performance in “King Richard” later that night.
That description of events doesn’t sit well with a few individuals with knowledge of the fraught minutes following the Rock slap. They claim that some Academy members expressed that they wanted Smith removed, but they also say that no formal or explicit ask was ever made. Another person familiar with the Academy said that Smith was asked to leave through an on-site representative. That call was made by Academy president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson, who, a source says, asked for Smith to leave the show instead of remaining in the auditorium for the rest of the telecast.
Show producer Will Packer, sources inside the Dolby said, was the key to Smith remaining in his seat. In the roughly 30 minutes following Smith’s attack on Rock, before the award for best actor was presented, Packer walked out into the orchestra and conferred with Smith, according to two witnesses. Packer said that he and the production “officially” wanted Smith to stay for the remainder of the show, according to one of the witnesses. Another source close to Packer denied that the producer urged Smith to remain.
Packer did not respond to requests for comment. Spokespeople for Smith and AMPAS declined to comment.
Several A-listers including Denzel Washington, Tyler Perry and Bradley Cooper were seen having close conversations with Smith in the theater during commercial breaks following the slap. Cooper hugged the upset actor, while Washington and Perry reportedly consoled him. No security personnel approached the actor.
When Smith accepted his award, his speech went on for several uninterrupted minutes, much longer than the time afforded to other winners.
Smith assaulted Rock after the comic made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved bald head, suggesting that she was supposed to appear in “G.I. Jane 2.” Pinkett Smith has said that she suffers from hair loss due to alopecia. Smith apologized to Rock on Monday and said that “a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.”
The Academy is investigating the incident. On Wednesday, the group said that Smith faces “suspension, expulsion or other sanctions” for his actions. The organization also apologized to Rock.
“Mr. Rock, we apologize to you for what you experienced on our stage and thank you for your resilience in that moment,” the group said in a statement. “We also apologize to our nominees, guests and viewers for what transpired during what should have been a celebratory event.”
Rock’s team was not contacted prior to the Academy’s statement being released on Wednesday. Another source says it was the first official apology that was issued to the comic following Sunday’s telecast.
Article From & Read More ( Will Smith Was Not Formally Asked to Leave Oscars Following Chris Rock Slap, Sources Claim - Variety )Kevin Smith feels like an “a–hole” for “petty” comments he once made about Bruce Willis, whose family revealed he has aphasia.
“Long before any of the Cop Out stuff, I was a big Bruce Willis fan – so this is really heartbreaking to read,” Smith tweeted Wednesday in response to the news of Willis’ diagnosis, referencing the 2010 action-comedy that he directed and the actor starred in.
“He loved to act and sing and the loss of that has to be devastating for him,” Smith 51, went on, admitting he feels “like an a–hole for my petty complaints” and is “so sorry” to Willis, 67, “and his family.”
In January 2011, Smith described the experience of working with Willis on “Cop Out,” which also starred Tracy Morgan, as “f–king soul-crushing.”
“It was difficult,” he said on the “WTF with Marc Maron” podcast at the time. “I’ve never been involved in a situation like that where one component is not in the box at all. It was f–king soul-crushing.”
“I mean, a lot of people are gonna be like, ‘Oh, you’re just trying to blame the movie on him,'” the filmmaker continued of the buddy cop flick, which received pitiful reviews. “No, but I had no f–king help from this dude whatsoever.”
While Smith claimed Willis “wouldn’t even sit for a f–king poster shoot,” he praised Morgan, now 53, for making production of the film bearable.
“Were it not for Tracy, I might’ve killed myself or someone else in the making of that movie,” he quipped.
It is unclear how long the “Pulp Fiction” star has been experiencing symptoms of aphasia, but his family revealed Wednesday that he would be stepping away from his decades-long career due to the medical condition.
Aphasia affects a person’s cognitive functions, including their ability to speak, write and understand both verbal and written language. It typically occurs after a stroke or head injury, though Willis’ family did not elaborate on his cause.
They also did not specify when the “Die Hard” star received the diagnosis, but sources exclusively told Page Six he was having “cognitive problems” on movie sets dating back to at least 2020.
Sources also said he was using “earpieces” to have lines fed to him and “body doubles, not just for action [sequences], but for maximizing his screen time.”
“Everybody knew, the cast and crew,” one insider explained, adding that the actor’s family eventually “stepped in” and “moved in to take care of him.”
Article From & Read More ( Kevin Smith apologizes for 'petty' Bruce Willis comments after aphasia diagnosis - Page Six )As a young drummer, Taylor Hawkins worshipped the Police. “My brother handed me a copy of Zenyatta Mondatta,” Hawkins told the BBC in 2019. “This was 1982. He goes, ‘If you want to be good, you have to play it like this guy.’ My two first major inspirations — probably the two guys that shaped a lot of what I do when I play drums in a rock band — are Roger Taylor and Stewart Copeland.”
Hawkins finally met his hero in 2005, and they began a long friendship that consisted of jams at Copeland’s home studio, the Sacred Grove, late-night phone conversations, and frequent hangs. Copeland called Rolling Stone to share his memories of the late drummer.
All of us in the drummer community are texting back and forth our shock and horror at this unexpected event. In fact, not to get too Grim Reaper-ish about it, but the last time I physically saw Taylor — although we talked on the phone a lot — was just as the lockdown was beginning, after Neil [Peart’s] memorial. I was there with [Jethro Tull’s] Doane Perry, [Tool’s] Danny Carey, and [Red Hot Chili Peppers’] Chad Smith, and Taylor, all lamenting the loss of our guiding light Neil Peart. And now, we will be reconvened.
We enjoyed each other’s company. Much more than guitarists do. You would think we would be more competitive, because there’s only one drum set on stage and you can have any number of amps. But for some reason we like extra rhythm clattering around us. He was very much in the drum tribe. Brothers of the stick. We have our own language, one not understood by guitarists, and particularly alien to keyboard players.
Taylor was a great hang, and there’s a big hole where a lot of laughs used to live. When we weren’t goofing off with each other, we were on the phone talking crackpot theories, get-rich-quick schemes, and just general hang bullshit. He was just indefatigably cheerful. He was emotional as well, but that just gave spice to his cheerfulness.
He was always Mister Fanboy, but that was part of his shtick. “OK, OK, Taylor, calm down!” One of his social tricks was that whenever we were hanging out, he’d select a Police T-shirt from his extensive collection. When he hung out with Neil, he’d have his Rush T-shirt on. He was 50 years old going on eight.
He was a fan of everybody, a real enthusiast. Even though he was a star, he was very interested in all the other people, how they got there and what they do. He knew it all — all the different things that everybody could do. Every flamma diddle and rattamacue as played by his heroes.
He’d go to his extensive estate, at the end of which is a guest house he turned into the drum palace. He could do the John Bonham double-bass-drum kick thing before they invented double-bass-drum pedals. Neil’s single-stroke rolls down all 14 tom-toms. All my stuff, Roger Taylor’s stuff, Phil Collins. He was fascinated by it all — and I’m sure it informed his own style — but he had his own thing. He went straight for the money.
He had no one sense of competition or one-upmanship, and we all know the reason for that: because his boss was a drummer. The worst indignity: His boss was one of the best drummers ever. So this made all of us other drummers with our axes to grind and gripes look at the world more calmly. Just think about Taylor’s gig.
I was thinking about when we met. I got a strange invitation out of the blue from the Foo Fighters to join them on their jet up to San Francisco to play a show [in 2005], and then straight to New York where they did 24 Hours of Foo on MTV. I think that’s the first time I met those guys. What really impressed me about all of them is not only were they the headlining act, but they all had side bands that were the supporting acts. Hardworking, those young musicians.
I’m not sure if it was Taylor or Dave who decided “That’s it, on the Police reunion tour [in 2007] we’re opening for the Police, damn it!” They were already a stadium act! So when we played Dodger Stadium, they insisted on opening for the Police. It was a very good thing, because they lit the whole stadium up. All we had to do was walk out there and look handsome, and the place was ours. There was that one moment [in the 2008 concert documentary Certifiable] where Dave’s going, “They’ve got lamb. We don’t have lamb.” By the way, he had lamb.
He had many more chops than he ever showed in the context of the Foo Fighters. The singing part came later. He always wanted to do the Klark Kent [Copeland’s 1980 solo debut] band. I said “Look, everyone wants to play the drums on that, can you play guitar or sing?” And at the time I got the impression he didn’t have that. Dave probably pushed him out in the front of the stage. He discovered, the same way Dave did, “Hey, it’s not rocket science. All you’ve got to do is have charisma and you can sing.” Dave and Taylor were so fraternal. They would claw at each other’s jugular veins and hug very soon after. In a way that only brothers can.
As I’m entering my 70th year, I’m an agony aunt for all my brothers of the stick. Never gave him any advice on how to play his darn drums — I would not be so impertinent — but we did talk long into the night about life’s complexities. OK, I’m giving the game away here, but he was a rock star, but also a father of three, husband to Allison. The three kids, Oliver, Annabelle, and Everleigh. And since I have seven kids and five grandkids, I had a couple of words of wisdom to impart. But in that sense, he was extremely solid.
He would come over here to some of our parties. Some of which were daytime sober parties, some of which were nighttime. Some of which were extremely unsober. But I can comment that Taylor never was an out-of-control, or even in-control, party animal. He was a pretty straight arrow, as far as I knew.
I had just finished playing a show with the Nashville Symphony [when I found out he died]. It was just an amazing show. Came offstage, the hotel was a block and a half away. I was in the shower before the audience was out of the building, endorphins pumping out of every pore. I was heading down to the bar, and just as I’m walking out of my hotel room door, I get the text. “Oh, for fuck’s sake, you’re kidding.” I get down to the bar, which is full of a throng of happy cheerful people all saying “Good show.”
The natural endorphins are still going strong, and at the same time just overwhelmed with disbelief and shock. Like I said, Neil saw his train coming and he had a first-class ticket. Nobody saw Taylor coming. He was just a force of life that seemed unstoppable. He was a living thing, not a thing that will ever die. So the suddenness was profound.
The music, of course, is going to be important to a lot of people, but the hang, that’s what I miss. The guy, that laugh, the husky kind of voice that he had, that surfer voice. He was certainly the quintessential surfer dude. Laguna Beach all the way. Was he actually a surfer? I never got a chance to ask him.
I’m so sorry for Allison and those kids. Dave, the band. That’s what makes me get through my day, is how much deeper and more profound, sudden, their loss was. They have a much bigger emotional mountain to climb. But his people who are more just his chuckle buddies, it takes longer to sink in that there’s a hole there. You know that if it had been anybody else, Taylor and I would be on the phone right now, deeply thinking about it. I just miss him.
Ewan McGregor revealed today that the Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ show has adjusted its premier date by two days and will now include two episodes rather than the previously expected one episode. The new release date is now Friday, May 27, coinciding with Star Wars Celebration in Anaheim, CA.
The show will follow Kenobi as he attempts to watch over Luke Skywalker on Tatooine while avoiding notice of the Empire’s Jedi-exterminating hunters, the Imperial Inquisitorius. Early set pictures revealed new characters and new worlds unique to the series, such as Moses Ingram’s Reva, a Force-sensitive Inquisitor who appears to be hot on the heels of Kenobi, tracking him across Tattooine and across the universe to the new planet of Daiyu, a world full of neon lights and graffiti that’s ruled by a criminal underground.
The official synopsis reads: “The story begins 10 years after the dramatic events of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith where Obi-Wan Kenobi faced his greatest defeat—the downfall and corruption of his best friend and Jedi apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, who turned to the dark side as evil Sith Lord Darth Vader.”
There’s been a lot made of this show and its star, especially after we’ve learned some absolutely adorable details about how McGregor pretends to use the Force to open doors (just like the rest of us!). Our coverage extends from our outline of what we know about the six-part series itself to how the writers almost brought Darth Maul back during the pitch session. We’ve also waxed poetic about the quadraped steed, Rooh the eopie, and lamented the lack of information surrounding Darth Vader’s return. We’ve also put together a guide to the essential Obi-Wan Kenobi media you can watch and read before the show, including Claudia Gray’s novels and Charles Soule’s five-issue comic miniseries.
Obi-Wan Kenobi will premiere with two episodes on Friday, May 27 on Disney+.
Wondering where our RSS feed went? You can pick the new up one here.
Bruce Willis’ family has announced the actor is retiring from the profession after being diagnosed with aphasia, a language disorder caused by brain damage that affects a person’s ability to communicate. Willis’ family members posted a joint statement to social media announcing the actor’s retirement.
“To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities,” the statement reads. “As a result of this and with much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.”
“This is a really challenging time for our family and we are so appreciative of your continued love, compassion and support,” the statement continues. “We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him. As Bruce always says, ‘Live it up’ and together we plan to do just that.”
Variety reached out to Bruce Willis’ representative for further comment, but his team has no additional statement to provide at this time other than his family’s words below.
Bruce Willis’ Career in Photos, From ‘Moonlighting’ to ‘Glass’
Willis’ acting career started in the early 1980s with uncredited roles in films such as Sidney Lumet’s “The Verdict.” His career exploded later that decade thanks to his starring role opposite Cybill Shepherd in the ABC series “Moonlighting ” and his performance as John McClane in the 1988 action movie “Die Hard,” which gave Willis his first major film franchise. Across his four-decade acting career, Willis’ movies have grossed over $5 billion worldwide. He’s been nominated for five Golden Globes (winning one for “Moonlighting”) and three Emmys (winning one for “Moonlighting” and another for his “Friends” guest role).
Read Willis’ family’s full statement in the social media post below.
Article From & Read More ( Bruce Willis Stepping Away From Acting Following Aphasia Diagnosis - Variety )Family, friends and fans are mourning the loss of singer Tom Parker.
Following a battle with brain cancer that was first diagnosed in October 2020, Parker, who was a member of the group the Wanted, died on March 30, his wife, Kelsey Hardwick, confirmed in a statement. He was 33 years old.
"It is with the heaviest of hearts that we confirm Tom passed away peacefully earlier today with all of his family by his side," she wrote in an Instagram post. "Our hearts are broken, Tom was the centre of our world and we can't imagine life without his infectious smile and energetic presence. We are truly thankful for the outpouring of love and support and ask that we all unite to ensure Tom's light continues to shine for his beautiful children. Thank you to everyone who has supported in his care throughout, he fought until the very end. I'm forever proud of you."
Article From & Read More ( The Wanted's Tom Parker Dead at 33 After Brain Tumor Battle - E! NEWS )(CNN)Comedians Wanda Sykes and Amy Schumer have opened up about the slap heard around the world.
Chris Rock has yet to publicly address being slapped by Will Smith during the 94th annual Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday. Fans are banking on the chance that could change Wednesday night.
Rock is set to perform two back-to-back shows at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston, and the anticipation has sent second-market ticket sales soaring, according to social media posts and resell websites.
StubHub, a ticket exchange and resale company, said it saw 25x the daily sales for Rock's shows in the days following the Oscar incident, exceeding cumulative sales for the comedian's tour during the entire month of March.
"At this stage in his tour, on an average day, we'd expect to see a spike in sales in the 24 or 48 hours prior to a show date as last-minute sales roll in – but it is incredibly unusual to see the spike we have experienced," Mike Silveira, a spokesperson for StubHub said in a statement to CNBC.
The jump in sales was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
There are more than a dozen tickets to Rock's Wednesday shows up for sale on StubHub, with prices ranging from $444 per ticket to $1,705. To be sure, those are just asking prices — it's unclear if anyone will purchase seats at those levels.
Users reported on social media that ticket prices soared from as low as $40 from before the incident to the triple-digit price tags after the altercation.
Ticket marketplace TickPick said Monday it sold more tickets to see Rock overnight after the slap than it did in the past month combined.
TickPick has three tickets currently available for the 7:30 show and four up for sale for the 10:00 show. Prices range from $800 to $1,100 each.
Ticketmaster's website says both the 7:30 pm and 10:00 pm shows are sold out. Meanwhile, Vivid Seats currently has four tickets for the 10:00 pm show, with two listed for $768 and two listed for $966.
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Jim Carrey is criticizing the audience at the 94th Academy Awards for rewarding Will Smith with a standing ovation during his acceptance speech for best actor after he smacked Chris Rock on the worldwide center stage.
"I was sickened. I was sickened by the standing ovation," the "Liar Liar" performer told Gayle King on CBS Mornings of the viral Oscars' moment while promoting his upcoming film, "Sonic 2." King made a point to note that Carrey's appearance on "Morning" was booked well in advance of the incident.
"I felt like Hollywood is just spineless en masse, and it just — it really felt like, 'Oh, this is a really clear indication that we're not the cool club anymore,'" Carrey added.
Smith was in tears while accepting his honor for "King Richard" in which he portrayed Venus and Serena Williams’ father, Richard Williams. Carrey said Smith should have been escorted out of the venue for his action.
CHRIS ROCK WAS ‘SHAKEN’ BY WILL SMITH INCIDENT BACKSTAGE AT OSCARS: SOURCE
King probed Carrey on Rock’s decision not to press charges against the "Ali" star for the literal slap in the face, and from Carrey’s point of view, Rock simply doesn’t "want the hassle" that comes with filing a police report along with the subsequent media barrage. But Carrey added that had he been in Rock’s position, an expensive lawsuit would have been swift.
"I'd have announced this morning that I was suing Will for $200 million because that video was going to be there forever," said Carrey. "It's going to be ubiquitous. You know, that insult is going to last a very long time. If you want to yell from the audience and disapprove or show a disapproval or say something on Twitter or whatever — you do not have the right to walk up on stage and smack somebody in the face because they said words."
WILL SMITH WAS ALMOST ‘REMOVED’ FROM OSCARS AFTER VIRAL CHRIS ROCK SMACK: REPORT
King then said that the moment had "escalated," which Carrey firmly pushed back on, explaining, "It didn't escalate. It came out of nowhere because Will has something going on inside him that's frustrated, and I wish him the best. I really do."
"I don't have anything against Will Smith. He's done great things, but that was not a good moment," Carrey lamented. "It cast a pall over everybody's shining moment last night. You know, a lot of people worked really hard to get to that place and to have their moment in the sun and to get their award for the really hard work they did."
Carrey appeared to be most disappointed in the fact that "it is no mean feat to go through all the stuff you have to go through when you're nominated for an Oscar," and he felt Smith hijacked the moment for a personal encounter with Rock.
"It's a gantlet of devotion that you have to do, and it was just a selfish moment that cast a pall over the whole thing," said Carrey.
WILL SMITH’S ‘BAD BOYS’ DIRECTOR MICHAEL BAY, OTHER CELEBS REACT TO CHRIS ROCK OSCARS SLAP
The moment in question happened when Smith stormed the Oscars stage after Rock made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith's balding head. The comedian had said he can't wait to see her in "G.I. Jane 2." Pinkett Smith has been struggling with alopecia and has spoken about the condition publicly.
Following the slap, Rock told the crowd, "Oh wow, Will Smith just smacked the s--- out of me."
"Leave my wife’s name out your f---ing mouth," Smith yelled back in response.
"Wow, dude. It was a ‘G.I. Jane’ joke," Rock continued.
"Keep my wife's name out your f---ing mouth," Smith repeated.
He has since publicly apologized to Rock after he slapped the comedian during the Oscars Sunday evening.
ACADEMY CONDEMNS WILL SMITH'S ACTIONS, LAUNCHING FORMAL REVIEW OF CHRIS ROCK SLAP
"Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive," Smith wrote in part on Instagram before publicly apologizing to Rock. "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."
His full statement reads: "My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.
"I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. 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.
WILL SMITH, CHRIS ROCK’S OSCARS SPAT HEARD IN UNCENSORED VIRAL CLIP
"I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us.
"I am a work in progress. Sincerely, Will."
Article From & Read More ( Jim Carrey tears into ‘spineless’ Oscars crowd for Will Smith ovation after slap: ‘I was sickened’ - Fox News )The Wanted's Tom Parker Dies at 33 After Cancer Diagnosis: 'He Fought Until the Very End,' Says Wife
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Article From & Read More ( The Wanted's Tom Parker Dies at 33 After Cancer Diagnosis: 'He Fought Until the Very End,' Says Wife - PEOPLE )Even before he slapped Chris Rock, Will Smith was on a knife-edge after tolerating months of jibes about his marriage to Jada Pinkett Smith on the awards circuit, multiple sources tell Page Six.
As he took a seat at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood Sunday night, Smith — waiting expectantly to pick up his first Oscar — faced yet another joke about his open marriage to Pinkett Smith, which irked the actor, we are told.
In a tasteless bit earlier in the ceremony, host Regina Hall called up eligible Hollywood hunks on stage. She said, “Will Smith, you’re married but you know what you’re on the list and it looks like Jada approved you, so you get on up here.”
One source close to the Smiths said, “Will and Jada have taken the high road when it comes to ‘stupid gossip’ about polyamory and scientology.
“But they have felt more exposed these past few years and it’s taken its toll.”
They have repeatedly been dogged with questions about their marriage of 25 years during this awards season, and Will is, according to the source, “fed up with it.”
Critics say that’s a little rich, considering Jada has been so up-front about the marriage issues and has even profited off them by discussing them on her “Red Table Talk” show on Facebook.
In 2020, the couple came clean about 50-year-old Jada’s “entanglement” with much younger R&B singer August Alsina, 29, who had claimed that he had an intense affair with the actress.
She admitted that she had been in “a relationship” with Alsina but she added that she didn’t consider it a “transgression” because she and Will were on a break at the time.
Then, in September 2021, Will, 53, told GQ that their relationship had evolved beyond monogamy and “We have given each other trust and freedom, with the belief that everybody has to find their own way,” adding, “And marriage for us can’t be a prison.”
But it’s different for the Smiths when they aren’t controlling the message. While Will missed the BAFTAs earlier this month to stay in Los Angeles for the Critics Choice Awards, host Rebel Wilson quipped that his “best performance in the past year was being OK with all his wife’s boyfriends.”
At the SAG Awards last month, E! red carpet host Laverne Cox told the couple, “We can’t wait for . . . more ‘entanglements.’”
“No more of those,” Jada said repeatedly while Smith, beside her, forced a smile. Sources say the couple are not currently seeing other people.
The Post earlier reported that therapy has helped Will and Jada — who share son Jaden, 23, and daughter Willow, 21 — work through their issues. The actor revealed in his memoir that, after they temporarily split in 2011, he visited a tantric sex expert and tripped on ayahuasca “14 times” to help heal his broken heart.
They’ve been through therapy, and this is where their relationship has landed,” said an insider. “They love each other very much.” Reps for Will and Jada didn’t comment.
But another source close to the Smiths insisted, “Jibes about their relationship doesn’t bother them – especially bulls**t rumors and gossip.”
The source added of Will’s issue with Rock, “This was personal. If someone else would’ve said it, it probably wouldn’t have mattered as much, but this was totally personal stemming from 2016 – and maybe before that.”
Jada – who starred in the “Madagascar” movies with Rock, is said to be particularly hurt by his jokes about her in 2016 and at this year’s Oscars, and Will wants to protect her, the source added.
The Breakfast Club host Angela Yee, on whose show Alsina, 29, first revealed his affair with Jada said of Will’s shocking assault on Chris Rock, “There’s no way that after all the things that have been said, all the jokes made, all the memes, everything — and this joke is the one thing that bothers you?
“I don’t know if it’s just directly at Chris Rock or just directed at everybody. But it just feels like it was a whole entire buildup of all those things and he was just frustrated,” she tells Page Six.
“I think part of the issue is with putting a lot of your business out there…it leaves you open for people to make comments and make jokes about any and everything because . . . the more you know, the more you can weaponize things against somebody.
She continued, “I personally don’t think Chris Rock jokes were so bad. But I guess when you look back at things that Chris said about them in the past maybe they don’t have a good history together.”
Rock poked fun at the Smiths back in 2016 when the A-list couple boycotted the Oscars due to all white acting nominees. “Jada said she’s not coming. I was like, ‘Isn’t she on a TV show?’ Jada’s gonna boycott the Oscars? Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties. I wasn’t invited!” Rock joked.
Yee said that while Jada’s relationship with Alsina happened during a break in her union with Will, and he allegedly knew all about it, he may have felt under pressure to prove himself by defending his wife.
She explained “I see a lot of people who are married who side with Will. Maybe Will was under pressure from Jada to prove his manhood as well. I see a lot of women supporting what Will did and I see a lot of husbands supporting him. But I also see a lot of comedians supporting Chris Rock.”
At this year’s Oscars, Rock made a joke about Pinkett’s bald head. She has been open about her battle with alopecia.
Will initially laughed at Rock’s joke, and Jada rolled her eyes. The camera panned back to Rock onstage, and Oscar insiders said what viewers didn’t see is the look Jada then gave Will.
One Oscar insider said, “Will was laughing at the GI Jane joke then Jada gave him a look that practically ripped him a new a**hole. He realized she was hurt.”
After hitting Rock, Smith won the best actor award for his role as the father of Venus and Serena Williams in “King Richard”. He made a tearful speech where he apologized to everyone except Rock.
The insider continued, “Using the words of Richard Williams to justify his own violence . . . then you go out to the Vanity Fair party, celebrate and rap to your own songs with no hint of regret about the assault – that’s a man who has problems, a sociopath.”
He and Jada were inseparable all night, holding hands after the notorious slap in the Dolby Theater, and later dancing at the Vanity Fair bash with their kids.
Comedian Donnell Rawlings, a close friend of Rock, said Smith likely has a beef with the comic that stretches back for years. Rock has used other, more extensive, material about Will and Jada during appearances at comedy clubs.
Of Rock’s joke about Jada at the 2016 Oscars, Rawlings said, “It’s my understanding that it was something going on with Chris and Will before or during the [Oscars So White] boycott in 2016, so it’s like how much can you push a person?
“It’s like OK we did it in 2016 — yes we could’ve handled it off the mic — but you choose the biggest moment in entertainment to come at me again?”
As Rock told his “GI Jane” joke about Jada, Donnell believes Smith’s reaction was based on his marriage, “In that moment when Will was laughing and Jada was rolling her eyes, you have to realize people hit Will Smith so hard about his relationship with Jada.
“You always got to understand the camera is always on you so smile . . . and probably on the inside something is saying something different — but it wasn’t until she reacted that he was triggered.
“Chris was sharp enough to get the s**t smacked out of him and everybody thought it was a sketch. But when Will said, ‘Keep my wife’s name out your f*king mouth’ Every Black person knows that is fighting words . . . it was a build up – it was like ‘Don’t push me cause I’m close to the edge I’m trying not to lose my head.”
Donnell continued of the slap, “It was one of the most gangsta moments to watch and it turned out to one of the worst moments in Oscar history.”
But not for everyone.
“The ride home between Jada and Will was probably a great for both of them,” Donnell says. “There’s no better sex than you have when you defend your woman’s honor.”
Article From & Read More ( Will Smith was already on edge when he slapped Chris Rock - New York Post )Zoë Kravitz has shared her disapproval of Will Smith’s controversial evening at the Oscars on Sunday, in which the actor walked onto the ceremony stage and slapped Chris Rock after the comedian said a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith then returned to his seat before shouting “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth!”
The incident between Smith and Rock stunned audiences, both inside the Dolby Theatre and watching from home, as it was not immediately clear whether the interaction was a staged sketch meant to be part of the show’s program.
In a pair of Instagram posts shared on Tuesday afternoon, Kravitz posted captions alluding to the altercation, though “Kimi” actress didn’t mention either Rock or Smith by name.
Kravitz wrote, “here’s a picture of my dress at the show where we are apparently assaulting people on stage now.”
Less than an hour later, “The Batman” star shared another picture of her at the Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty, captioned with a bluntly similar message: “And here is a picture of my dress at the party after the award show – where we are apparently screaming profanities and assaulting people on stage now.”
In his subsequent acceptance speech for best actor, Smith apologized to the Academy and his fellow nominees, though he did not address Rock during the evening. Smith later released an apology to Rock on Monday afternoon, expressing remorse over his actions.
“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally,” Smith wrote. “I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. 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.”
Article From & Read More ( Zoë Kravitz Calls Out Will Smith Slap at Oscars: ‘We Are Apparently Assaulting People on Stage Now’ - Variety )Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and his bandmates made an emotional return to Los Angeles following the shocking death of drummer, Taylor Hawkins, on tour in Colombia.
Grohl appeared visibly stricken Saturday as he embraced a man believed to be their manager, John Silva, after touching down in the US from Bogota.
He was joined by bandmates, Pat Smear, Chris Shiflett and Rami Jaffee, as well as jazz singer Samantha Sidley.
Hawkins, 50, was found dead Friday in a hotel room at the Four Seasons Casa Medina in Bogota.
There has been no official cause released of his death, although the band said in a statement Friday that his passing was a “tragic and untimely loss.”
Prosecutors in Colombia released a statement Saturday saying toxicological tests on urine from Hawkins’ body preliminarily found 10 psychoactive substances and medicines, including marijuana, opioids, tricyclic antidepressants and benzodiazepines.
And reports emerged Sunday that the drummer died of cardiovascular collapse.
The Foo Fighters, which had been on tour in South America, had been set to play at a festival in Bogota, Colombia, on Friday night.
“His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever,” the band said on Twitter. “Our hearts go out to his wife, children and family.”
Article From & Read More ( Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl makes emotional return after Taylor Hawkins' death - New York Post )Travis Scott performed a short set at a private pre-Oscars party in Los Angeles on Saturday – marking his first performance since the Astroworld tragedy.
The rapper grabbed the mic and rapped his hit song “Sicko Mode,” as seen in videos captured by fans on social media,
Scott, 30, bopped along and smiled throughout his performance as the audience sang along. He stepped out to the event wearing a black flat brim baseball cap with “IRAK” written on it, a black leather jacket, a graphic T-shirt and a gold pendant necklace.
The dad of two performed in front of dozens of celebrities including Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Venus and Serena Williams, Tyga, YG and Kaia Gerber, according to TMZ.
Scott’s girlfriend Kylie Jenner did not appear to be in attendance.
Reps for the rapper did not immediately return Page Six’s request for comment.
Scott’s latest performance marks the first time he’s been on a stage in some capacity since his November 2021 festival in Houston that killed 10 fans and injured hundreds more.
The “Goosebumps” artist faced major backlash after he continued to perform on stage despite fans begging him to stop after things got out of control.
Scott has since claimed that he “1,000 percent” did everything he could to help those that were dying and that he didn’t hear fans pleading with him to stop.
Astroworld has since been dubbed one of the deadliest live-music crowd events in the country. Scott, organizer Live Nation, streamer Apple Music, and special guest Drake are facing more than 140 lawsuits in addition to a mass litigation suit by 1,500 concert attendees.
The “Highest in the Room” singer is attempting to make amends for his deadly concert, as he launched Project HEAL, an organization focused on making events safer and protecting the youth.
“I will always honor the victims of the Astroworld tragedy who remain in my heart forever,” he wrote on Instagram earlier this month.
Scott and Jenner welcomed their second child, a baby boy they originally named Wolf, Four months after the tragedy. Jenner, 24, revealed via her Instagram Stories, however, that they have since changed the baby’s moniker. The couple also share 4-year-old daughter Stormi.
Article From & Read More ( Travis Scott performs for the first time since Astroworld tragedy - Page Six )[unable to retrieve full-text content] Creamy Cider Chicken and More Recipes We Made This Week Bon Appetit Article From & Read More...