Nadhim Zahawi was also asked how he would explain the incident to children
Government minister Nadhim Zahawi has defended Oscar winner Will Smith after the actor slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars.
The Education Secretary said it was “heartbreaking” to watch Smith “lose control”, but said he had set a good example, having “apologised immediately”.
Smith sparked controversy at the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday night, after he stormed on stage and struck Rock for making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s alopecia.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast’s Sally Nugent on Monday, Zahawi said his “heart broke” when he saw Smith make his “tearful apology” for the incident.
“He apologised immediately. It was hard for him because someone had made a joke about his wife and her illness,” Zahawi said.
“That’s not easy but he regretted it and apologised immediately. It is heart-breaking when you lose control of your emotions in that way but I think it’s important not to allow yourself to cross that line.”
Zahawi said Smith’s prompt apology was “good to see”.
Asked how he would explain the incident to children if he were a teacher, the education secretary said: “I would say, don’t do it”, but added that some jokes were off-limits, or “below the belt”.
Zahawi went on to praise Smith, “a very talented man”, for winning his first Oscar for King Richard, where he plays the father of tennis greats, Serena and Venus Williams.
The altercation occurred after Rock joked that Jada Pinkett Smith, who suffers from alopecia, looked like “GI Jane 2”.
After slapping Rock, Smith shouted: “Leave my wife’s name out of your f****** mouth.”
He then burst into a tearful apology, saying: “I want to apologise to the Academy, I want to apologise 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 light on all of the people.”
The Oscars later released a statement that read: “The Academy does not condone violence of any form.”
The Academy does not condone violence of any form.
Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world.
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 28, 2022
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