Will Smith won another Best Actor Award for his role in “King Richard” as Richard Williams – this time at the BET Awards. Smith’s Oscar win was not as well-received as Smith’s. Smith has kept a low profile, and did not attend Los Angeles’ BET Awards ceremony.
Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, attended the Oscars in March. After the comedian had made a joke about Pinkett Smith’s hair, Smith got on stage unannounced and slapped Chris Rock. Smith was invited to the Academy Award for Best Actor.
One of many awards not given on air was the BET Award for Best Actor. Smith faced two of the stars of “Bel Air”, Jabari Banks (a remake of his 1990s TV show, “Fresh Prince of Bel Air”) and Adrian Holmes (a contender for Best Actor). Banks portrays Will Smith’s character, while Holmes portrays Philip Banks, Holmes is that character’s uncle.
Smith also faced Anthony Anderson for Black-ish, Damson Idris and Denzel Washington for Snowfall. Sterling K. Brown was nominated to “This is Us” and Forest Whitaker was nominated as “Godfather of Harlem”.
BET presented awards for television, music, film and several performances. Smith didn’t post on social media about his win – and he has not posted since the incident at Oscars.
Smith made a statement via Instagram following the incident: “Violence, in all its forms, is poisonous. And destructive.” Smith wrote. Rock was rebuffed by Smith, who said that his behavior at Academy Awards “was unacceptable” and inexcusable.
Smith was subject to repercussions: The Academy banned Smith for ten years. While the Los Angeles Police Department was ready to arrest Smith, Rock was “dismissive”, and decided not press charges. Will Packer, a producer of the awards show, said ABC News’ “Good Morning America.”
Smith hasn’t been in the limelight since then, but Pinkett Smith addressed the matter on her Facebook Watch show “Red Table Talk.”
“My deepest wish is for these two intelligent, capable men to have the opportunity to heal, discuss this and reconcile the current state of the world. They are both essential and we need them more than ever. Will and I will continue to do the same thing we have done for 28 years. She said, “And that’s continue to figure out this thing called Life together.”
Smith’s “King Richard” co-stars, Mikayla Barrtholomew, and Saniyya Sydney spoke to Entertainment Tonight during the red carpet at BET Awards. Bartholomew said that Smith always tells him everything is in divine splendor every time he speaks to him, ET’s Kevin Frazier. It’s always a pleasure to have a conversation with him.
Sidney, who played Venus Williams, said that the film was special to her. “Venus [Williams] and Serena [Williams] have made a huge difference in the lives of so many women, including ours.”
