Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena, is weighing in on everything between Chris Rock and Will Smith. Speaking with Good Morning Britain, Williams said Smith should be forgiven for slapping comedian Chris Rock at the Academy Awards in 2022. He also said Smith’s 10-year ban from attending the Academy Awards presentation ceremony should be lifted.
“It definitely should be,” Williams said during the interview. “It should be just one day. Or no more than one week at the most.”
Smith, who played as Williams in the King Richard film, slapped Rock on stage after the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair loss, as Blavity previously reported. Williams said Smith was right to defend his wife.
“Yeah. I’ll always stand by him. I think he’s done the best that he needed to,” Williams said. “I would never be disgusted with Mr. Smith. Matter of fact, I appreciate Mr. Smith. I don’t see nothing wrong with him.”
Williams is advising the public to forgive Smith.
“No one should criticize a person on and on and on and on,” he said. “So, I think he’s done extremely well. And I really appreciate him very, very well. And I really welcome him.”
The 81-year-old was asked to explain what he would say to people who think he shouldn’t defend Smith.
“I don’t give a damn what no one says about me good or bad,” he said. “People are always gonna be criticizing Black people around the whole damn world, even in London.”
If someone tried to hurt his daughters, Williams said he’d teach them to defend themselves.
