Tyler Perry has opened up for the first time about the aftermath of Will Smith's controversial Oscars incident, shedding light on his role in the moments immediately following the onstage altercation with Chris Rock.
During a conversation with Gayle King as part of the Tribeca Film Festival's Directors Series in New York City, Perry clarified that his interaction with Will Smith and Denzel Washington after the incident was focused on "deescalating" the situation, not merely providing comfort.
Perry, who attended the Oscars to honor Sidney Poitier during the In Memoriam segment, expressed the difficulty of being friends with both individuals involved. Despite the discomfort in the room, Perry emphasized the painful experience for Chris Rock, commending him as a "pure champion" for how he handled the situation.
Addressing Will Smith's actions, Perry acknowledged their unequivocal wrongness but also delved into the emotional toll on Smith, stating that something had triggered an uncharacteristic outburst. Perry made it clear that he expressed disapproval to Smith directly.
"When we walked over to him, he was devastated. He couldn't believe what happened. He couldn't believe he did it," Perry recalled of Will Smith's demeanor. Despite the gravity of the incident, Perry highlighted that winning an Oscar was a significant career moment for Smith, making the outburst all the more perplexing. The filmmaker/actor concluded by reaffirming that while there is no excuse for Smith's actions, it was a moment of deep disbelief and regret for the actor.
