Jay Leno Shares ‘Most Disturbing’ A part of Will Smith Oscars Slap Incident For Him: ‘It Was the Yelling of Obscenities’

Jay Leno has weighed in on the incident finally month’s Academy Awards, the place Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage after the comic made a G.I. Jane joke concerning the look of Smith’s spouse, Jada Pinkett Smith, who is understood to have alopecia.

The comic and former Tonight Present host, 71, referred to as Smith a “good man,” whereas explaining probably the most troubling a part of the entire ordeal for him.

“To me, the factor that’s most annoying wasn’t the slap, as a result of he was type of smirking after he slapped [Rock],” Leno instructed the Palm Seaside Day by day Information on Friday (April 15), forward of his standup present this weekend on the Kravis Middle in West Palm Seaside.

“It was the yelling of the obscenities. Then you definitely go, ‘Whoa. What’s happening right here?’ That is actual anger.”

Leno additionally thought-about the aftermath of the slap, which has included the Academy of Movement Image Arts & Sciences — after expressing its upset and outrage — launching a formal inquiry into the incident that would, apparently, take weeks to finish.

Talking to the outlet, Leno posed the query: “What are you investigating?” He added, “It needed to be probably the most recorded assault in historical past. I noticed the again of his shoe, I noticed Chris’ ear. There have been so many cameras on this incident. What are you investigating? I do know generally issues are simply what they look like.”

Smith, who apologized for his habits to Academy members and his fellow nominees throughout his Oscars finest actor win for King Richard, and subsequently on to Rock in a social media assertion, introduced his resignation from the Academy on April 1, referencing his “surprising, painful and inexcusable” actions in a letter to the group.

Shortly after, the Academy’s board of governors dominated that Smith is banned from attending the Oscars or some other Academy occasions for 10 years. He will likely be allowed to maintain the Oscar he was given for his efficiency in King Richard, and can stay eligible for future nominations and wins.

This text was initially revealed by The Hollywood Reporter.