Tyler Perry: 'Distraught' after Will Smith's Oscar slap

Tyler Perry, who was seen talking to Will Smith during the notorious onstage altercation at the Oscars, said the actor was "distraught" after slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars. According to Variety, Perry, who is friends with both Smith and Rock, spoke publicly about the incident for the first time during a conversation with Gayle King at the Tribeca Film Festival on Monday.

"I left the stage immediately and checked on Chris because it was an uncertain situation," Perry said. "I was sure to tell Will about it, and when we went to him, he was distraught. He couldn't believe what had happened."

In March, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Perry said he tried his best to de-escalate the situation. He believes Smith is still grappling with his actions. Perry said, "I think he's trying to figure out what happened."

Tyler Perry shared a backstory related to the mental trauma that triggered Smith. He also speculated that the 57-year-old comedic actor's decision to slap Rock stemmed from childhood trauma inflicted by Smith's father after he made fun of Jada Pinkett Smith's alopecia, causing Smith's hair loss.

According to Variety, Perry referenced a passage from Smith's memoir "Will," where the actor describes a time when he was an 8-year-old child unable to protect his mother.

"I know that feeling; I feel cold thinking about it," Perry said. "I know what it's like to be human and think about that little boy. If you don't confront that trauma as you grow older, it will manifest at the most inappropriate, the most terrifying time."

Pinkett Smith has alopecia and has struggled with hair loss. Smith slapping Rock occurred when he compared him to the character G.I. Jane played by Demi Moore.

Perry admitted that it was difficult being close to both Smith and Rock, and he made it clear that he did not try to comfort Smith after the incident.

Smith has publicly apologized to Rock and resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, effectively making him ineligible for future Oscars for ten years due to the attack.

Due to the assault, the actor, who won an Oscar for acting in "King Richard" in 2022, was banned from all Oscar-related events for ten years as of April.