Vivica A. Fox held back tears as she discussed Jada Pinkett Smith‘s comments about her husband Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at this year’s Academy Awards.
On Thursday’s episode of The Wendy Williams, the actress, 57, said that Jada took “no accountability” for her part in the incident on Wednesday’s Red Table Talk.
“This is going to be difficult for me. These are my peers. I’ve done a movie with both of them. Set It Off with Jada and Independence Day with Will Smith, which absolutely changed my life. When I saw this video last night, it made me cry, I’ll be very honest with you guys,” she emotionally shared.
“I really felt to be a partner to Will Smith who’s career basically took a crumble that night,” she added. “We were all rooting for Will Smith that night — Oscar night — we wanted him to win. Will Smith that night as far as I was concerned was going to be crowned this generation’s Sidney Poitier, which is a huge honor.”
Fox then opened up about why she felt Jada had a role in the incident which occurred after Rock joked about Jada’s shaved head leading Will to walk onstage and strike the comedian.
“Will Smith was defending her honor, that’s the reason he walked on stage and slapped because he felt like his wife had been offended so for me to see no accountability as a partner,” she explained.
“Also, let’s not forget, Chris Rock was assaulted. We cannot forget that for basically telling a joke that I really felt wasn’t that bad.”
She continued, “Let’s not forget the show was executive produced by Will Packer, an African American man. This night was a night of African American and diversity for brown and black people. That now will forever be scarred.”
Fox hoped Will and Jada Smith would take more responsibility for their actions in the aftermath of the incident.