We are several months past the infamous incident at the Academy Awards that saw Best Actor winner Will Smith smacking comedian Chris Rock across the face over a joke told about Jada Pinkett Smith. Many celebrities have since shared their opinions, with some condemning Smith’s behavior while others continue to stand by the actor. The latest famous person to weigh in on the situation is DJ Jazzy Jeff, the DJ who spent many years recording music with Smith in the 80s and 90s; he had also appeared on Smith’s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
In the fallout of the Oscars slap, there were many who criticized Smith for laying his hands on someone much smaller than him. Many had said that Smith wouldn’t have reacted the same way if the person who told the joke was someone bigger or more intimidating than Rock. In a new interview for the Faq Podcast (per BET), DJ Jazzy Jeff dismisses this idea, insisting Smith is someone who shows no fear and wouldn’t have backed down for anyone.
To demonstrate his point, the DJ even names boxing legend Mike Tyson as someone Smith would have just as easily smacked across the face, regardless of how that might have turned out for him. This goes back to Smith feeling protective of Jada with DJ Jazzy Jeff also insisting that the actor would have taken on a grizzly bear if the animal had posed a threat to his family.
Will Smith Was Banned for Ten Years from Attending Academy Events
Netflix
After the incident, the Academy decided that Smith would keep his Academy Award for King Richard, though it had been speculated that the Oscar could have been rescinded. However, Smith is not allowed to attend any events sanctioned by the Academy for the next decade. That does not mean that he still cannot be nominated for awards during that time. If he happens to score a nomination, he won’t be able to personally attend the ceremony.
“I accept and respect the Academy’s decision,” the embattled actor said in a statement when the news was announced.
