Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith spent the afternoon together in Malibu on Saturday. It was their first public appearance since viewers watched millions of him punch Chris Rock during the live Oscars broadcast in March.
Smith 53-year-old Smith wore the navy blue outfit with a matching hat lunch at the fashionable Nobu sushi restaurant on the Pacific Coast Highway with his wife of more than 25 years.
Jada wore a black jumpsuit with a flannel red plaid jacket tucked in her waist. She walked close behind her husband as they walked out of the restaurant by the ocean.
The couple has largely avoided the spotlight since Smith famously slapped Rock on the cheek prior to when the comedian handed out an award at the live telecast at the 94th Academy Awards. A few seconds earlier, Rock told a joke about Jada.
Smith was a riot on stage following Rock made fun of Jada’s bald head, referring to “G.I. Jane.” Pinkett Smith had previously discussed her battle with alopecia, an auto-immune condition that results in hair loss.
After this incident, Smith was awarded the top actor prize for his performance in “King Richard,”” during which time Smith apologized for his actions.
JADA PINKETT SMITH HOPES WILL SMITH, AND CHRIS ROCK CAN ‘RECONCILE’ AFTER OSCARS SLAP: AN ‘OPPORTUNITY TO HEAL’
A few days after fact days later, the “Independence Day” actor quit the Academy of Television and Film. Academy in a letter by Fox News Digital, saying that he “betrayed confidence in Academy members.” Academy.”
“I have directly addressed the academy’s notice of disciplinary hearing and I fully accept all penalties for my behavior,” he said.
“My actions during the 1994 Academy Awards presentation were shocking as well as inexcusable. The list of people I’ve hurt is lengthy and includes Chris and his family and many of my beloved family and friends and all the people who were in attendance, as well as the global audience at home. I shattered the trust of the academy.”
Smith stated that Smith “deprived others who were nominated and winners” of the chance to be honored and Smith would accept any negative consequences from the board.
“I am so devastated,” he said. “I am determined to put the spotlight back on those who are worthy of recognition for their accomplishments and let the academy continue the extraordinary work it is doing to promote the artistic and creative process in the field of film. This is why I am leaving the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and will accept any other actions that the Board considers appropriate.”
After Smith’s resignation, acknowledged as a valid resignation by the Academy, Smith was banned for 10 years from participating in Oscars events and performances.
On July 1, Smith made a YouTube clip that explored the incident. He confessed that he’s approached Rose Rock to discuss this incident but said the comedian was not willing to discuss the matter with the comedian. Smith also spent five minutes of the video making apologies to Rock as well as other celebrities, which included Rose Rock.
“I am sorry to Chris’s mom,” Smith said. “I was watching an interview Chris’s mom gave and, well it is one thing I remember about the time. I was unaware of the extent of it, and, as a matter of fact, I was not thinking about about how many people were injured during that time,” Smith said.
The mother of Rock, Rose, initially said, “When Will slapped Chris she said he slapped all members of the family, however, he actually hit me.”
“So I’m sorry to Chris”s mother,” Smith continued. “I would like to apologize to Chris and his family. Particularly, Tony Rock [Chris’ younger brotherTony Rock. We had a great friendship. Tony Rock was my man. It’s probably irreparable.”
Chris has his own take on it. Chris has utilized the slap as a talking issue on his latest “Ego Death World Tour” and has also compared Smith to ex- Death Row Records co-founder, Marion “Suge” Knight, who is currently serving a 28-year sentence in prison after pleading not guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the year 2018 after a fatal incident with a police officer in Los Angeles in 2015.
“Everybody wants to play the person,” Rock said, via People magazine. “If everyone claims to be the victim, then no one will ever hear about the actual victims. I was even hit with Suge Smith … I was at work the following day, I had children.”
“Anyone who believes that words hurt has not been hit to the forehead,” he added, the same sentiment he echoed on an earlier show while touring recently together with Kevin Hart on “Only Headliners Allowed,” a show where Dave Chappelle also appeared.