Will Smith had seven-word response to being handed Oscars ban

When we think of controversial Oscar moments, naturally our minds are drawn to some pretty pivotal moments.

The speech that got Pretty Woman actor Richard Gere banned from the gala for two decades may be the first thing you think of.

Or maybe it’s Martin Scorsese losing the Best Director award to Kevin Costner in 1991?

Perhaps Angelina Jolie planting a kiss on the lips of her brother James Haven Vought?

For many it will be the explosive moment that took place at the 94th Academy Awards in 2022; The Slap Heard Around the World.

At Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022, nominated actor Will Smith, 56, smacked Chris Rock, 60, after he made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, 53.

Pinkett Smith, who suffers from alopecia, or hair loss, was called out at the Oscars by Rock.

He claimed he couldn’t ‘wait to see’ her starring in a sequel to 1997’s G.I. Jane because of her shaved head.

The comedian, who was presenting the award for Best Documentary Feature, noticed Smith was coming towards him.

After storming on stage, Smith slapped Rock before returning to his seat, where he continued to shout profanities at him.

After the heated exchange, the Best Documentary Award was handed over to the crew of Summer of Soul.

Smith, who continued to participate in the 2022 Oscars ceremony, was later presented the Best Actor award for his portrayal of Venus and Serena Williams’ father in King Richard.

The following day, Smith issued a formal apology via Instagram and Facebook, referring to his behaviour as ‘unacceptable’ and ‘inexcusable.

Days after he resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), officials revealed the Bright favourite would be banned from attending the Oscars or any other Academy event for the next ten years.

In response to the Academy’s decision, Smith released a seven-word statement.

Will Smith said he 'accepted' the Academy's decision to ban him for a decade (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

“I accept and respect the Academy's decision,” he said.

53-year-old Pinkett-Smith and the Bad Boys star have been married since 1997, having met on the set of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1994.

In 2023, the Cleopatra actress revealed on an episode of the now-defunct Red Table Talk that she and her husband had been separated for six years at the time of the Oscars altercation.

Over a year later, Pinkett Smith claimed the incident saved their marriage.

“I call it the ‘holy slap’ now because so many positive things came after it,” she told Daily Mail’s YOU Magazine in December 2023.

“That moment of the s**t hitting the fan is when you see where you really are,”

“After all those years trying to figure out if I would leave Will’s side, it took that slap for me to see I will never leave him.”