Kevin Hart thinks everyone should stay out of the situation between Will Smithand Chris Rock.
On the latest episode of the Drink Champs podcast, Hart, 43, addressed whereSmith and Rock stand after the March 27 Oscars incident, saying it’s betweenthem, not outside parties.
“People make mistakes, and from mistakes they should be allowed time to f–in’recover,” the actor/comedian said. “And that this is no longer the world’sproblem — it’s Will and Chris’s problem. Let them deal with that. The worldshould step out of it and let them recover.”
He later added, “Let Will recover from it. Let Chris get back to work asnormal. Let two men be men and figure that out if they choose to. If they do,they do. If they don’t, they don’ t.”
Hart also said that Smith, 54, is a “legend” who paved the way for more moviestars to be given chances in Hollywood, adding that no one can take thatlegacy away from him.
“Will Smith is the reason why the idea of African Americans attached toglobal IP is normal. Studios took the gamble on more leads of color because ofthe work that Will Smith, Denzel [Washington] were doing in the beginning,right? You need the faces that are giving the universal return. So I’m notgonna s– on Will and act like he hasn’t been and wasn’t that guy.”
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chris rock and will smith
Getty (2) Chris Rock (L); Will Smith
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In July, Hart told Entertainment Tonight that Smith was working on himselfafter the incident: “Will is apologetic, you know. He’s in a better space, ofcourse, than what he was after. People are human, and as humans sometimes wemake mistakes. So it’s not about talking about the past, it’s aboutacknowledging the present and doing your best to move forward.”
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Hart said at the time that he’s still friends with both Smith and Rock, addingthat he hoped they can make amends.
“I can only hope that the two of them find a way to find some solace in thatand move past it. I just like good energy. I love to see people be the best. Istill love him; I still love Chris. You can’t judge a person by one thing.Ultimately, life goes on and people grow, so give him the opportunity to doso.”
At the Oscars, before his win for Best Actor, Smith walked onstage and hitRock on live television after taking issue with a joke made about his wifeJada Pinkett Smith. The joke was about Jada’s shaved head; she lives withalopecia, and Will explained in a statement days later that the punchline was”too much for me to bear” and he “reacted emotionally.”
Smith later resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences andwas banned from attending its ceremonies for the next 10 years.
MTV Generation Award Honoree Will Smith (L) and host Kevin Hart pose backstageat the 2016 MTV Movie Awards at Warner Bros. Studios on April 9, 2016 inBurbank, California. MTV Movie Awards airs April 10, 2016 at 8pm ET/PT.
Jason Kempin/MTV1415/Getty Will Smith and Kevin Hart in 2016
Jada, 51, addressed the incident on an episode of her Red Table Talk show,saying, “About Oscar night: My deepest hope is that these two intelligent,capable men have an opportunity to heal, talk this out and reconcile. With thestate of the world today, we need ’em both, and we all actually need oneanother more than ever. Until then, Will and I are continuing to do what wehave done for the last 28 years — and that’s [to] keep figuring out this thingcalled life together. Thank you for listening.”
In a video apology shared earlier this summer, Smith said he has reached outto Rock about speaking about the incident. He said, “I’ve reached out to Chrisand the message that came back is that he’s not ready to talk, and when he ishe will reach out. So I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. Mybehavior was unacceptable, and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.”