Following Will Smith and Chris Rock‘s altercation at the Academy Awards, several public figures have come out in support of the “Seven Pounds” actor. Will’s former co-star and “Fresh Prince” alum Janet Hubert voiced her support for the Philadelphia native, saying in an interview, “Yes, there’s only so much one can take … sometimes you have to slap back.” While Tiffany Haddish told People, “When I saw a Black man stand up for his wife, that meant so much to me.”
However, not everyone was pleased with Will’s actions. Actor Jim Carrey, who has been a pioneer in comedy since the ’80s, said he felt ill about the praise Will received following the altercation. “I was sickened by the standing ovation,” Carrey said during an appearance on “CBS Mornings.” Adding, “I felt like Hollywood is just spineless en masse. It just really felt like: ‘Oh, this is really a clear indication that we’re not the cool club anymore.'”
Carrey’s criticism comes shortly after the Academy condemned Smith’s action at award ceremony. In a statement provided to The Hollywood Reporter, the Academy said in part, “We have officially started a formal review around the incident.” The outlet also reports that the Academy’s board of governors are slated to meet on March 30 to further discuss the altercation.
