NAACP Image Award-winning actor, and film director, Tyler Perry told Emmy Award-winning journalist Gayle King his thoughts on the Oscar slap incident during an interview at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 13 .
According to reports, Perry reportedly had a gripe with the media saying he comforted Oscar Award-winning rapper and actor Will Smith after the King Richard star slapped Emmy Award-winning comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscar Awards ceremony. Smith smacked Rock in the face after the comedian made a joke about his wife, actress Jada Pinkett-Smith’s bald head, which she shaved due to suffering from alopecia.
“There is a difference between comforting and de-escalating,” the New Orleans native told King.
He was seen consoling Smith alongside legendary Oscar-winning actor Denzel Washington after the altercation involving the 53-year-old.
Perry further explained that he made sure he went to check on both Smith and Chris after the slap incident.
“I was there close up. I left early to go and check on Chris because it was wrong in no uncertain terms,” he reportedly said. “I made sure I said that to Will, and when we walked over to him, he was devastated. He couldn’t believe what happened.”
He added that he felt Smith had been reflecting on the situation.
“I think he is very much in reflection of trying to figure out what happened,” Perry said.
During the interview, King also asked him if the Philly native would be keeping his soundstage at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta, Ga. The soundstage is one of 12 that he named after iconic Black actors.
However, Perry insisted that talking about it would overshadow his entire interview.
“My only problem with it is this: If I talk about it, then it [will overshadow] everything else we talked about. That will be the headline for sure” he said. “I feel very uncomfortable. I don’t feel it is my story to tell.”
