It was a moment that many expected to play differently — Will Smith finally taking home his Best Actor trophy 20 years after his first Academy Award nomination. It was supposed to be a triumph for an actor, whose career warranted such praise— but instead, it was an uncomfortable moment that followed an unprecedented act of physical violence at the Oscars.
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In “King Richard,” Smith plays Richard Williams — father to Venus and Serena Williams — whose presence looms large in their lives and careers. Smith had been considered a lock for weeks, and many were looking forward to his win – but a confrontation between Smith and Chris Rock changed our perspective on that. When Rock made a cruel joke about Jada Pinkett Smith‘s hair during an earlier segment – the actress suffers from alopecia — Smith stormed the stage, slapping Rock and shouting profanities at him from the audience. It was a moment so shocking many thought it was scripted, and Smith’s assumed victory loomed large over the rest of the proceedings.
In his acceptance speech, Smith spoke of the importance of protecting his family — and the opportunity that “King Richard” gave him to connect with his family. And then, breaking down, Smith relayed a message shared by fellow honoree Denzel Washington: “In your highest moment, that’s when the devil comes for you.” And finally, Smith apologized to the Academy and to his nominees – but not to Rock.
It’s a moment that left many reeling, and there’s undoubtedly still a lot we don’t and can’t know about what went down. And unfortunately, that means a would-be moment of celebration feels like anything but.