Over five months have passed since seasoned actor Will Smith assaulted comedian Chris Rock at this year’s Oscars.
The incident occurred when Rock was presenting an award on stage at the event. The comedian made a hair joke about Smith’s wife, Jada, after which the “Bright” actor got up on stage to assault his colleague.
Following the incident, several Hollywood celebrities weighed in on it. Some criticized Rock, while others condemned Smith for his lack of self-control. Most recently, Smith’s ex-wife Sheree Zampino has spoken up about the incident, revealing her desire for fans and the media to forgive him.
Sheree Zampino Asked Fans To Forgive Will Smith
In an exclusive with The Daily Mail, Zampino spoke about the Smith and Rock’s Oscar altercation, which shocked the entertainment industry and the public at the time.
The “Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills” star opined that her ex-husband’s action proved that he was human. She also voiced her support for him and revealed her wish for the public to forgive him for his actions.
“I hope people allow him to be human,” she said per the publication. “I really hope for that because I stand in support of him; we are on good terms, adding, “you cannot heal without forgiveness.”
Smith has since suffered a tragic decline in his career since the incident and has not been seen actively involved in a new movie. Soon after he made the headlines for his action, several proposed films and collaborations he signed up for were postponed indefinitely, while others were canceled.
The actor has also taken to a low-key profile, staying out of the media and public places and sparingly posting on his social media pages.
She Praised Will Smith
While calling for fans’ forgiveness, Zampino urged them to consider his years of bringing them joy on the big screen, which has lasted several decades since he garnered critical acclaim on the comedy series “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
“I hope with him—he’s been in the business since 16 with Fresh Prince Of Bel Air,” she added. “He gives so generously, he puts love into everything he does, he’s so gracious, so kind, he has heart connection to his fans. He has given us years of laughter.”
Already, Smith has made moves to reconcile with his fans. He first wrote an apology on his Instagram page, apologizing for his behavior to Rock, the Oscars, and the general public after the incident. Last month he took the reconciliation process even further by sharing a clip of himself addressing fans’ questions and apologizing again to everyone hurt by his actions.
Sheree Zampino On Co-parenting
Through the months of personal work that followed, Smith had the support of his family, including his ex-wife, Zampino. The pair shared a short marriage that started in 1992 and ended in 1995. During their time together, they welcomed a son Trey,29. Smith subsequently married Jada two years after their split.
Earlier in the month, Zampino shared during her appearance on the “Behind the Velvet Rope” podcast that co-parenting was not all rosy but that their responsibility to their children keeps them going during the challenging moments.
“You got three different dynamics, three different personalities, and different belief systems, a different way of doing things,” she said, referencing herself, Smith, and his now wife Jada, per Daily Mail.
She added: “[In the end] we do what we have to do because again, at the end of the day, it’s about the kids. We have a responsibility to them.”
She Shares A Good Relationship With Jada Pinkett Smith
Zampino also commented on having a good relationship with Jada just as she does with her ex-husband, which smoothened moments when the trio “bumped heads” on their parental values.
“We have gotten along very well for many years. I am on good terms with Jada, I love her dearly,” she continued.
The “Games People Play” actress shared a benefit of their relationship, revealing that Jada supported her in launching her own body lotion, Whoop Ash.
“I didn’t have the as a businesswoman, but Jada told me to go for it,” the actress said. “I gave her some of the product, and she loved it. She told me she knew I could make a business out of it.
Whoop Ash was birthed in 2006 after Zampino experimented with making her own honey-based cream. The actress revealed that the product was “98 percent natural,” adding that it was “comfort food for the skin.”