Vivica A. Fox tuned in to Jada Pinkett Smith’s “Red Table Talk” on Wednesday and, like the rest of us, heard the host finally address the incident at the Oscars.
Will Smith slapped Chris Rock after he made a joke about Pinkett Smith’s hair.
“My deepest hope is that these two intelligent, capable men have an opportunity to heal, talk this out and reconcile,” she said on “Red Table Talk.”
While Fox appreciates that Smith was defending his wife’s honor, she says she wants the Smiths to take more accountability for the incident, especially considering the fallout for everyone else involved.
“This is going to be difficult for me. These are my peers. I’ve done a movie with both of them: Set It Off with Jada and Independence Day with Will Smith, which absolutely changed my life. When I saw this video last night, it made me cry, I’ll be very honest with you guys,” she said on “The Wendy Williams Show.”
“I really felt to be a partner to Will Smith who’s career basically took a crumble that night. We were all rooting for Will Smith that night — Oscar night — we wanted him to win. Will Smith that night as far as I was concerned was going to be crowned this generation’s Sidney Poitier, which is a huge honor.”
Smith has kept a low profile since that night. He has been dropped from several projects and received a 10-year ban from the Academy.
The assault sparked debate online. Like Fox, some were torn between Smith defending his spouse after being publicly humiliated. But violence is never the answer.
“Will Smith was defending her honor, that’s the reason he walked on stage and slapped because he felt like his wife had been offended so for me to see no accountability as a partner,” she went on. “Also, let’s not forget, Chris Rock was assaulted. We cannot forget that for basically telling a joke that I really felt wasn’t that bad. Let’s not forget the show was executive produced by Will Packer, an African American man. This night was a night of African American and diversity for brown and black people. That now will forever be scarred.”
“I have love for the Smiths. I know their children. I’ve watched them grow up,” the actress concluded. “I just wish we could have just a little more accountability and for it to not seem so self-righteous on Jada’s part and that’s my feelings.”
