By AFP
UNITED STATES: Will Smith on Sunday received the Oscar for finest actor for portraying Venus and Serena Williams’ father Richard within the tennis biopic “King Richard,” taking residence the trophy minutes after he went viral for slapping presenter Chris Rock onstage.
“Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family,” Smith stated by tears.
“Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said, just like they said about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things.”
Not lengthy earlier than he earned his golden statuette, Smith sparked controversy on the gala by storming onstage and slapping Rock, who made a joke in regards to the actor’s spouse, Jada Pinkett Smith.
“I’m hoping the Academy invites me back,” Smith stated to shut his speech.
Smith beat Javier Bardem (“Being the Ricardos”), Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Power of the Dog”), Andrew Garfield (“tick, tick…BOOM!”) and Denzel Washington (“The Tragedy of Macbeth”).
After the altercation and Smith’s speech, host Amy Schumer returned to the stage, saying: “Did I miss anything? there’s like a different vibe in here.”