Jada Pinkett Smith has addressed the Oscar slap for the first time in her June 1 episode of the ‘Red Table Talk’. Previously, the ‘Gotham’ actor had commented on her husband Will Smith slapping comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards, saying “This is a season for healing. And I’m here for it.” 

Pinkett Smith’s decision to address the slap in the latest episode of her Facebook series is because it dealt with alopecia. Smith had slapped Rock for making a joke about his wife’s shaved head – which Jada only sports due to her struggle with the disease which leads to severe hair fall. After returning to his seat, the ‘King Richard‘ actor warned Rock to keep his wife’s name out of the comedian’s mouth. 

Also Read | Jada Pinkett Smith in tears for alopecia victim who died by suicide over bullying

“This is a really important ‘Red Table Talk’ on alopecia. Considering what I’ve been through with my own health and what happened at the Oscars, thousands have reached out to me with their stories”, the 50-year-old said at the start of the episode, adding, “I’m using this moment to give our alopecia family an opportunity to talk about what it’s like to have this condition and to inform people about what alopecia actually is.”

Then, she went on to the 94th Academy Awards that will now be marked for the infamous slap. “Now about Oscar night, my deepest hope is that these two intelligent, capable men have an opportunity to heal, talk this out and reconcile”, said Pinkett Smith. 

Also Read | Is Will Smith going to therapy following Oscars controversy?

She concluded, “The state of the world today, we need them both. And we all actually need one another more than ever. Until then, Will and I are continuing to do what we have done for the last 28 years, and that’s [to] keep figuring out this thing called life together. Thank you for listening.” 

Following the slap, the Academy suspended Smith from becoming a member, for 10 years for his violent behaviour. The actor had resigned from the Academy ahead of the announcement. While  Rock has not publicly addressed the slap yet, he has made jokes about it on his standup tour.  

Also Read | Oscars 2023: 95th Academy Awards to be held on March 12

Pinkett Smith has constantly been focused on “healing” and trying to have a civil conclusion to the situation which got escalated on the night of the awards. Earlier, she’d said Season 5 of ‘Red Table Talk’ wouldn’t address the controversy because her family was focused on “deep healing”. However, the actor had shared that some details of the “healing” would be addressed on the show at the right time. The current episode shows that the family has now dealt with the fallout of the incident. 

Despite Pinkett Smith’s singular focus on healing, the night of the incident, she’d been agitated by Rock’s joke, prompting the action on Smith’s part – who’d previously appeared unruffled by Rock’s punchlines aimed at his wife of 24 years.