Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, a co-star of Will Smith in the film "King Richard," has publicly defended Smith's actions at the 2022 Academy Awards, where he slapped presenter Chris Rock. Ellis-Taylor stated in an appearance on The Daily Beast's "Obsessed" podcast that she stands by Smith's decision to defend his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith.
"I know that he wanted to protect his wife, and I stand by that," Ellis-Taylor said. "I stand with him for that."
The incident occurred after Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith's shaved head. Pinkett-Smith has publicly shared her struggles with alopecia, a medical condition that causes hair loss. Rock's comment, "Jada, I love you. G.I. Jane 2, can't wait to see it!" prompted Smith to walk onto the stage and strike him.
Following the physical altercation, Smith returned to his seat and yelled at Rock, "Keep my wife's name out of your f
king mouth!"
Ellis-Taylor, 57, also characterized Rock, 61, as an "a--hole" during the podcast, questioning whether First Amendment rights should protect individuals who cause harm. "I think that, you know, this idea that First Amendment rights should protect everybody? I don’t think it should necessarily protect a--holes," she stated.
Smith, 57, was later awarded the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Richard Williams in "King Richard." Ellis-Taylor was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Oracene "Brandy" Price in the same film.
Ellis-Taylor further praised Smith's conduct on the set of "King Richard," describing him as a "caretaker" for the cast. "Will Smith is the most caretaking actor that I've ever worked with," she said, noting his efforts to prevent the mistreatment of background artists. "He just would not allow anybody to be treated poorly in his presence. He would just not allow it. And I cannot tell you how rare that is in this job."
Smith faced repercussions for his actions, including a 10-year ban from attending the Oscars ceremony and all Academy-related events. He voluntarily resigned from the Academy prior to the official ruling. The day after the incident, Smith issued an apology on social media, expressing remorse and acknowledging his behavior was out of line.
Rock has previously commented on the impact of the incident, stating in a "Good Morning America" interview that "Anybody that says words hurt has never been punched in the face."
