Will Smith‘s mother says her son’s actions at the 94th Academy Awards during an exclusive interview with ABC 6 in Philadelphia.
This past Sunday, several Hollywood stars took home the gold for their hard work in recent films, with Smith, 53, finally taking home an Oscar for Best Actor. But before that, his name made headlines for slapping comedian Chris Rock over a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith‘s hair. He’s since apologized to Rock and the Academy for his actions that he says are “not indicative of who he is as a man.”
Smith’s mother, 85-year-old Carolyn Smith, shares that same sentiment about her son.
“He is a very even, people person,” said Carolyn to the news station on Monday. ‘That’s the first time I’ve ever seen him go off. First time in his lifetime,” adding that she’s “never seen him do that.”
When she spoke to Smith after the ordeal, Carolyn says she told him to take a break and go on a vacation. “I am proud of him being him,” said Carolyn. “‘I know how he works, how hard he works.”
His sister, Ellen Smith, 50, says she knows all about how much Will Smith has put up with in the industry. “I’ve had conversations with him, and it like really kind of broke my heart listening to the things he’s said he had to go through to get to where he is.”
Rock decided against pressing charges.
