Less than an hour after Will Smith’s altercation with Chris Rock on the Oscars stage, Will Smith Won Best Actor in a Leading Role as the titular Richard Williams.
Nominees were read and he was announced as the winner. He shared a brief moment with Jada, they kissed. He took the stage as he received a standing ovation from the audience for his acceptance speech.
“Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family,” he began as he got emotional. “In this time in my life, in this moment, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world”, he continued.
He also thanked Venus, Serena, and the entire Williams family for entrusting him with their story.
“I want to be an ambassador of that kind of love and care and concern. I want to apologize to the Academy, I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees. This is a beautiful moment and I’m not crying for winning an award, it’s not about winning an award for me, it’s about being able to shine a light” on the cast, crew, and Williams family, he said. “Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things.”
He concluded by talking about his mother and thanked the Academy for the honor.,“I hope the Academy invites me back.”
