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'How gross': Wanda Sykes slams Academy for letting Will Smith STAY and accept award after slapgate

Sykes also revealed that Chris Rock apologised to her personally at Guy Oseary’s party later that evening

Wanda Sykes, a comedian and Oscar host, ripped into the Academy of Arts and Motion Pictures on Wednesday, March 30, while recording an episode of 'The Ellen DeGeneres Show'. Sykes said that the Academy's action of allowing Will Smith to remain in the theatre and accept his award on Sunday night, March 27, made her feel "physically ill."

Sykes, who co-hosted the Oscars 2022 with Amy Schumer and Regina Hall, told Ellen DeGeneres that she was taken aback when she initially realized what was going on backstage and wondered aloud, "Is this really happening?" 

Sykes also revealed that Rock who was slapped by Smith apologised to her personally at Guy Oseary’s party later that evening. “And as soon as I walked up to him, the first thing he said was, ‘I am so sorry,’ and I’m like, ‘Why are you apologizing?’”

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In an interview set to air on April 7, Sykes said, "I just felt so awful for my friend, Chris. It was sickening. I physically felt ill. I'm still a little traumatized by it."

"Yeah. Because and for them to let him stay in that room and enjoy the rest of the show and accept his award, I was like 'how gross is this.' This is just the wrong message, you assault somebody you get escorted out of the building. That’s it. But for them to let him continue, I thought was gross," she remarked.

Despite Smith's apology to Rock and the Academy, she noted, "No one has apologized to us." Sykes came to a conclusion, "We worked really hard to put that show together — so I’m like, what the hell is this?"

For the uninitiated, Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's hair at the 2022 Oscars, calling it 'GI Jane' which angered her husband, actor Will Smith. The 53-year-old actor walked on stage and slapped Rock. Last year, Jada announced that she had shaved her head after being diagnosed with alopecia. The day after the now-famous slap, Smith made a public apology to Rock on Instagram: "I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris," he said. "I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness."

Meanwhile, many Twitter users supported Sykes' views. According to one user, "For all who think that Will was justified in doing what he did because he was 'defending his woman'. Would you feel the same if Wanda Sykes had told the joke Rock did? Would it be okay if Will slapped her because he was 'defending his woman'? Violence is violence."

Another user made a similar point, but also expressed her feelings regarding the public's reaction to Smith's actions, "The reaction on Twitter to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock is depressing. The people who think it’s okay to assault someone over a joke is wild. If Wanda Sykes made that joke and he reacted the same way it would be a very different discussion."

One user voiced her support to Wandy Syke in a tweet that read: "I totally agree with Wanda Sykes. We all witnessed an act of workplace violence. In what planet are there zero consequences for this? Hollywood should have zero tolerance for workplace violence. Truly disgusting Will Smith did this."

Disclaimer: This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.