Whoopi Goldberg defends Academy's decision not to physically eject Will Smith after Chris Rock slap_freckle removal
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Will SmithAmerican actor
Chris RockAmerican comedian, actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer, and director
Whoopi Goldberg on Thursday defended the film Academy's decision to give Will Smith the option of leaving Sunday's Oscars after his slap of Chris Rock on stage.
Speaking about the controversy on "The View" on Thursday, Goldberg, who serves on the Academy's board of governors, said she understands why Smith was asked to leave the show rather than being told to exit the ceremony.
"I’m going to tell you why he got the option. Picture, well, OK, they come back from break, now if he’s in some sort of state and he’s struggling and they’re trying to get him out the door and it’s still on camera," Goldberg said. "Listen, we work a live show every day and stuff happens and it comes out your mouth or you do something stupid and you’ve got to sit there and deal with it.
VIDEO SHOWS JADA PINKETT SMITH LAUGHING AT CHRIS ROCK JOKE IMMEDIATELY AFTER WILL SMITH'S SLAP AT OSCARS
"I can’t imagine what was going on. I wasn’t there. I can’t imagine what was going on back there, but I do know the only person anybody should be focusing on, in my opinion, is Will Smith," Goldberg continued.
Goldberg went on to stress that, while she wasn't present at the awards show, she's heard from others who were there that many in the audience were "stunned" by what went down.
The co-host went on to praise Rock for keeping his composure in the aftermath.
"Let’s talk about that because that’s the best of the Academy," Goldberg said.
Goldberg's co-hosts also recognized her role on the board of governors, to which she replied that she isn't at liberty to speak on behalf of the Academy.
MINNIE DRIVER SAYS CHRIS ROCK ‘WAS ABANDONED BY PRODUCERS AND THE ACADEMY’ AFTER WILL SMITH SLAPPED HIM
"I can’t because I’m not their spokesperson and everything they had to say they’ve said. But there are things that I do know. People said to me, ‘Well, you know, they were running over to greet him’ and someone else is saying, ‘Well, you know, everybody was checking to make sure he wasn’t having a manic moment,’ because that’s not what he’s known for, smacking people. So we’ll see what happens and that’s where I keep saying let us keep in mind that there’s one person responsible for this," she added.
(editor:)
- Dad of Seattle Seahawks star dies after being hit by vehicle in South Carolina
- Sasha Obama Is Reportedly Dating the 24
- No, you can't help yourself to business
- Judge rejects effort by Trump to toss Jan. 6 lawsuits
- Evan Rachel Wood says Marilyn Manson 'essentially raped' her on camera during 'Heart
- Disastrous free skate keeps Kamila Valieva out of Olympic medal position
- Gould's FG on final play gives 49ers 13
- Canadian men to host Jamaica in March World Cup qualifier at Toronto's BMO Field
- What to watch in winter Olympic sports this weekend
- Interior designers share 5 kitchen trends that'll be huge this year and 4 that will be out
- 20 lessons Vivek Shraya has learned in 20 years of making art
- Kamila Valieva leads after women's short program at Beijing 2022
- Bonds, Clemens, Ortiz to be close calls for National Baseball Hall of Fame
- Canada's Parrot quiets critics with bronze in big air for 2nd medal of Beijing Olympics
- New mom faces backlash over her ‘entitled’ baby photo demands: ‘She waited too long’
- 11 Canadian books to read for Earth Day 2022
- Q&A: What can Canada take away from Denmark's 'done with COVID' approach?
- Canada sets Olympic record en route to speed skating gold medal in women's team pursuit
- Look up! At Vancouver's Capture Photography Festival, images are where you least expect them
- Interior designers share 5 kitchen trends that'll be huge this year and 4 that will be out