The 2022 Grammy Awards opened with the host and presenters taking jabs at canceled actor Will Smith.
Will Smith jokes were on everyone’s lips at the Grammys a week after the disgraced actor slapped Oscar Awards presenter Chris Rock onstage.
The Grammys opened on Sunday with host Trevor Noah taking a jab at Smith. “We’re going to be keeping people’s names out of our mouths,” he said in reference to Smith yelling at Rock to keep Jada Pinkett Smith‘s name out of his mouth.
Before introducing presenter Nate Bargazte, actor LeVar Burton reminded the audience that Bargazte is a comedian.
“I want to warn you all that our next presenter is a comedian. If you know what I mean,” he said. “So I need to caution everybody: Remain in your seats and keep your hands to yourself. Alright?”
Then Bargatze walked out onstage wearing a black helmet.
“They said comedians have to wear these now at award shows during their joke parts,” Bargazte said. “It doesn’t even cover your face, I think it just focuses where you would hit me.”
Smith resigned in disgrace from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) on Friday, saying that he “betrayed the trust of the Academy,” in a statement to Fox News Digital.
“I have directly responded to the Academy’s disciplinary hearing notice, and I will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct,” Smith said. “My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable. The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home. I betrayed the trust of the Academy.”
Smith’s resignation came days after AMPAS announced a hearing on April 18 to take disciplinary action against the “King Richard” star.
Among the options on the table are revoking Smith’s membership from the Academy (which Smith did himself) and asking him to return his coveted statuette, aka the “death penalty.”
Actor Denzel Washington appeared as a guest on Bishop T.D. Jakes‘ Master Class.
Washington told Jakes that he prayed with Smith after The Slap, and he believes prayer is the “solution” to Smith’s mental breakdown.
“There but for the grace of God go any of us,” Washington said. “Who are we to condemn? I don’t know the ins and outs of the situation, but I know the only solution was prayer.”
The fallout continues for Smith, as Netflix and Sony announced his projects have been put on hold.
Smith’s Netflix film Fast and Loose was “quietly moved to the back burner” according to The Hollywood Reporter. And Sony paused production of Bad Boys For Life (a.k.a. Bad Boys 4) indefinitely.
Rumor has it that Smith was experiencing a “manic” episode when he hauled off and slapped Rock during the Oscar Awards on March 27.
Insiders whisper that no one wants to work with Smith due to fears he might be triggered and slap someone on the set.
