Will Smith slap: Jim Carrey calls Oscars audience ‘spineless’ for giving Smith standing ovation

LOS ANGELES — Jim Carrey is speaking out after actor Will Smith smacked comedian Chris Rock during the Academy Awards broadcast on Sunday.

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According to Variety and E! News, Carrey, 60, told CBS News this week that he was “sickened” when Smith, who won the best actor Oscar for his role in “King Richard,” received a standing ovation during his acceptance speech less than an hour after the incident.

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“Hollywood is just spineless en masse, and it really felt like this is a really clear indication that we aren’t the cool club anymore,” the “Sonic the Hedgehog 2″ star told “CBS Mornings” co-host Gayle King.

Carrey went on to say Smith “should have been” forced to leave or possibly even arrested for his actions, the news outlets reported.

“I’d have announced this morning that I was suing Will for $200 million because that video is going to be there forever,” said Carrey, who added that he has “nothing against” Smith and wishes him the best. “It’s going to be ubiquitous. That insult is gonna last a very long time.”

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Rock, a presenter at the Academy Awards, was thrust into the limelight Sunday night after Smith, enraged by Rock’s “G.I. Jane” joke about wife Jada Pinkett Smith, walked onstage and struck the comedian during the ceremony. Pinkett Smith has a shaved head and suffers from alopecia, a hair-loss condition, according to The Associated Press.

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After returning to his seat in the audience, Smith appeared to shout, “Keep my wife’s name out of your (expletive) mouth,” Variety reported.

Smith returned to the stage later to accept the best actor Oscar. He apologized to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences during his acceptance speech, adding that he is fiercely protective of his family, the AP reported.

“Art imitates life,” he said at the time. “I look like the crazy father. But love will make you do crazy things.”

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In a statement early Monday, the academy said it “does not condone violence of any form.” The organization later said it has “officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law,” The Associated Press and Deadline reported.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Police Department said investigators are aware of the incident, according to The Guardian and NBC News.

“The incident involved one individual slapping another,” the department said in a statement. “The individual involved has declined to file a police report. If the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report.”

Smith also took to Instagram on Monday to apologize to Rock, who hasn’t commented publicly about the incident.

“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,” the post read. “I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”

While several celebrities, such as Kathy Griffin, Judd Apatow and Mark Hamill, have denounced Smith’s actions, others appeared to come to his defense, according to the AP.

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“Sometimes when you’re speaking about somebody’s wife, you can’t really help that, so that’s what I would say,” Mj Rodriguez told the news agency at Vanity Fair’s Oscars after-party.

Singer Nicki Minaj also took to Twitter to say people should consider Pinkett Smith’s feelings.

“Imagine what it must feel like to be losing your hair to the point where you have to shave it bald,” Minaj wrote. “You think that’s easy to deal with for anyone? You don’t think she’s cried about that many times?”

– The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Photos: Will Smith, Chris Rock confrontation stuns Oscars crowd Presenter Chris Rock, left, reacts after being hit on stage by Will Smith while presenting the award for best documentary feature at the Oscars on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

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Photos: Jim Carrey through the years Jim Carrey and Lauren Holly appear at the premiere of "Dumb and Dumber" in 1994. (Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

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