Former Good Morning Britain host, Piers Morgan, 56, sympathises with world famous actor Will Smith, 53, after he struck comedian Chris Rock in the face during the surprising assault in front of fellow celebrities.
The shocking moment was broadcast to the world during the Oscars award ceremony on Sunday night (March 27).
TV personality Piers, who is not shy of public outbursts himself, wrote for his Uncensored column that he first thought it was all a joke: “Like everyone, my first thought was that it had to be a joke, some pre-rehearsed stunt the pair had cooked up to grab headlines.”
He went on to say: “But then the cameras cut to Smith’s enraged snarling face, it was suddenly very clear that he wasn’t kidding, and this was all very real.”
The stunned jokester Chris exclaimed: “Wow, Will Smith just smacked the s*** out of me!”
(Image: REUTERS)
Cameras cut to the surprised crowd of A-listers in the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, who all fell silent.
Will Smith has since apologised on Instagram for his actions, stating violence is “poisonous” and he was “sorry”.
Piers said that a few years ago he interviewed Jada Pinkett Smith for CNN.
Hubby Will took time off from filming Men In Black 3 and turned up unannounced to support her, as she had a “rough” schedule.
(Image: Getty Images)
He stated his first encounter with Will was “unnerving”, and that Will threatened him to not upset his wife saying: “You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.”
Commending Jada’s bravery, Piers spoke of the “courageously and candidly” way she discussed “her four-year battle with alopecia”, and that she “found it ‘terrifying’ when large clumps of her hair first began falling out in 2018”.
Piers went on to show his sympathy with Jada, writing: “In July 2021, she revealed she had shaved off all her remaining hair. It was obviously a deeply personal and harrowing experience for her, as it is any woman.
“Will saw how upset his wife was by the comment, it stung him too. He chose to defend her honour.”
Piers admitted when he was editor for the Daily Mirror, he regretfully bullied a former editor for The Sun, who had alopecia.
Piers wrote: “I now regret that. For those who suffer from it, it’s a soul-crushing condition.
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
“And whilst I don’t condone violence, Will Smith didn’t punch him. It was just a slap, that Rock shrugged off with good humour.
“As for Will Smith, as the cancel culture mob race to destroy him, hysterically demanding he be stripped of his Best Actor award and charged with assault, I find myself moved to defend him.”
The argument erupted after comedian Chris Rock, 57, made an uncomfortable joke about actor Will Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s new close-cropped hairdo.
Jada, 50, has previously revealed to the world that she has been battling hair loss since 2018 after an alopecia diagnosis.
Superstar Smith was seen to initially laugh at the joke cracked by the comedian, who quipped after seeing Jada that he “can’t wait for G.I. Jane 2”.
After Jada was clearly unimpressed, seen rolling her eyes in response, Will stormed onto the stage and struck Chris Rock, with Will shouting: “Keep my wife’s name out of your f****** mouth!”
In Piers’ column for The Sun, he claimed he “knows why” the superstar exploded publicly and turned to defend him.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
