'Jazzy Jeff'says Will Smith would've slapped Mike Tyson regardless of who else was on stage at the Oscars
'Jazzy Jeff'says Will Smith would've slapped Mike Tyson regardless of who else was on stage at the Oscars
Updated on June 30, 2022 15:29 PM by Anthony Christian
Will Smith may have moved beyond the Oscars slap incident, but DJ Jazzy Jeff has not. The Philadelphia turntablist and producer who has collaborated with DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince in the past discussed not being surprised by Smith's outburst on the FAQ Podcast. Smith walked on stage at the 94th Academy Awards to slap Chris Rock for making a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's alopecia in reference to the 1997 film G.I. Jane. Jazzy Jeff maintains that Smith would have slapped almost any individual for making the joke months later.
The one thing I would say - because I have heard people say, 'Oh he wouldn't have done that to a gangsta,'" he mentioned. "Let me tell you a little bit about Will. Someone like Will has cliff dove in Jamaica but is incapable of swimming. Will was the person he ran to when he was afraid. I don't have that kind of courage. It's not in me. I've seen Will almost die many times running straight. Jazzy Jeff even stated that Smith would have slapped Mike Tyson. "It made no difference who was present. Will would have had his ass beaten, but he was going to do what he was going to do regardless of who was standing in his way.
It was not for show. I must protect. He would have done it if he were a grizzly bear. I know him well.” Jazzy Jeff last discussed the incident in April on the Closed Sessions podcast, which was part of the Legend Conversation series. Jazzy Jeff stated, "Don't misunderstand that this was something that he was proud of.". "It was an error in judgment, you know?". The thing I have realized is that I am not aware of too many people who have had the least lapse in judgment, similar to his.
„I can think of 50 times when [Smith] could've smacked somebody in the face, but he didn't. He is human, so it is possible for him to have a lapse in judgment. "I think people who deem people like that to be unhuman are usually the ones who criticize them."Smith resigned from the Academy after winning the Oscar for Best Actor at the 94th Academy Awards. Additionally, he has been banned from participating in Oscar-related events for the next ten years. Before traveling to India for "healing," the actor apologized publicly to Chris Rock on social media.