Will Smith slapping the sh-t out of Chris Rock live on the Oscars stage might be the most talked about part of tonight, but it wasn't the only MAJOR moment involving the prince of Philly. You'll have to call him Academy Award Winner Will Smith from now on. His emotional acceptance speech about fiercely protecting family and his apology inside.
As we were all still reeling from the slap seen and heard around the world, Will Smith was announced as the winner of the Oscar for Best Actor. It's been a long award season, with Will clearly the front runner after winning at most of the big Award shows, but it was still somewhat alarming to see him be announced as the winner minutes after he had just done the wildest ish on national television.
Accepting his award, Smith said, "I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do in this world." He spoke about how playing Richard Williams opened him up to loving harder and protecting his family fiercely, a clear nod to his actions just minutes prior when he walked on stage to deliver a huge slap to Chris Rock's face after he cracked a joke about Jada's bald head.
Will apologized during his speech, but not to Chris Rock.
"I want to apologize to the Academy. I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees.This is a beautiful moment and I'm not crying for winning an award."
Will also acknowledged what legendary actor - and fellow Best Actor nominee - Denzel Washingtonspoke into him during the commercial breakafter the altercation.
“At your highest moment, be careful. That’s when the devil comes for you,” he said Denzel told him.
Well that's a word for us all.
Watch Will's tearful speech about love, protection, family and why he's doing things differently in his life from now on:
You can tell that him working through his issues with his abusive father (like never feeling like he stood up to him) that he spoke about in his memoir as well as channeling the ultimate fierce protector Richard Williams in King Richard has definitely affected him at his core.
Will's ex-wife Sheree Zampino, the Smith children and fam were backstage cheering him on as well:
Congrats to Will on a well earned Academy Award. What a time!
Photo: Getty
