Tyler Perry has recalled the moments after Will Smith famously slapped Chris Rock at The Oscars back in March.
The 52-year-old filmmaker – who was seen on stage with the 53-year-old Smith after the shocking incident – wanted to make clear that he was ‘deescalating’ the situation and not comforting the A-lister as he talked about the aftermath of the shocking moment.
On Monday, Tyler had an on-stage conversation with Gayle King as part of the Tribeca Film Festival’s Directors Series in New York City where he discussed several topics including that notorious slap.
Shocking: Tyler Perry has recalled the moments after Will Smith famously slapped Chris Rock at The Oscars back in March
Interesting: The 52-year-old filmmaker – who was seen on stage with the 53-year-old Smith after the shocking incident – wanted to make clear that he was ‘deescalating’ the situation and not comforting the A-lister as he talked about the aftermath of the shocking moment
Of his talk with Will, the A Madea Homecoming star said: ‘There’s a difference between comforting and deescalating, that’s No. 1. And I left early to get to Chris to make sure he was okay. Being friends with both of them has been very difficult.’
Tyler wanted to make clear that it was a tough moment for everyone in attendance and that Chris should not only be praised for the way he handled it but there should also be understanding for Will.
He explained: ‘Trust me, as painful as it was for all of us in the room, it was as painful for Chris, who was a pure champion for the way he handled it.
‘But I want you to understand that something happened that was extremely painful for [Will] as well. That is no excuse. He was completely wrong for what he did. But something triggered him — that is so out of everything he is.’
Of his talk with Will, the A Madea Homecoming star said: ‘There’s a difference between comforting and deescalating, that’s No. 1. And I left early to get to Chris to make sure he was okay. Being friends with both of them has been very difficult’
Tyler was on hand on Hollywood’s biggest night to honor Sidney Poitier during the In Memoriam segment as he said the ugly incident was ‘wrong in no uncertain terms, and I made sure I said that to Will.
‘And I’ll tell you, when we walked over to him, he was devastated. He couldn’t believe what happened. He couldn’t believe he did it.
‘I’m looking at this man in his eyes going, ‘What are you doing? This is your night.’ And to get all the way to this moment, winning an Oscar, that was one of the crowning moments of his career that he wanted so desperately, and to have something like that happen… I think he is very much in reflection of trying to figure out what happened.’
Dynamic duo: On Monday, Tyler had an on-stage conversation with Gayle King as part of the Tribeca Film Festival’s Directors Series in New York City where he discussed several topics including that notorious slap
Tyler went on to say that he believes that Will’s childhood trauma had played a major role in why things unfolded the way they did.
He said: ‘Because what I’ll tell you is I just read his book, and there’s this moment about not being able to protect his mother [as a child]. I know that feeling — I’m getting chills just thinking about it.
‘I know that feeling of being a man and thinking about the little boy. And if that trauma is not dealt with right away, as you get older it will show up in the most inappropriate, most horrible time. I know Will. I know him well.’
This comes just weeks after Will’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith directly addressed the slap at The Oscars for the first time in depth, saying she hopes the two men have the ‘opportunity to heal’ and ‘reconcile’ after the shocking incident.
Tyler was on hand on Hollywood’s biggest night to honor Sidney Poitier during the In Memoriam segment as he said the ugly incident was ‘wrong in no uncertain terms, and I made sure I said that to Will’
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Read More: Will Smith was ‘devastated’ after THAT Chris Rock slap at The Oscars insists