Serena, Venus Williams’ father defends Will Smith, says it is time for ‘everybody’ to forgive actor

Richard Williams, the daddy of tennis greats Serena and Venus, defended actor Will Smith for slapping comic Chris Rock on the Oscars final 12 months because the 2023 Academy Awards loom.

Rock made a joke about Smith’s spouse, Jada Pinkett Smith, eventually 12 months’s present which prompted Smith to rise up from his seat, storm the stage and slap the host. The incident marred the present as Smith received Best Actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams within the movie “King Richard” – which was in regards to the father of the tennis stars educating and training his daughters.

Will Smith, proper, took problem with Chris Rock’s joke about his spouse, Jada Pinkett Smith, main him to slap the comic throughout the face. (ROBYN BECK/AFP)

Will Smith, proper, is now not a member of the academy, resigning himself in addition to being banned for 10 years. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

On Monday, Williams spoke to “Good Morning Britain” in regards to the slap for the primary time.

“I believe he has accomplished the very best factor he wanted to do, however I might by no means be disgusted with Mr. Smith. Matter of truth, I recognize Mr. Smith,” Williams stated.

Serena Williams, proper, of the USA celebrates along with her father Richard Williams after her Ladies’ Singles closing match towards Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland on day 12 of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships on the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 7, 2012 in London. (Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Williams stated he “didn’t really feel sorry” for Rock.

CHRIS ROCK TAKES AIM AT JADA PINKETT’S AFFAIR AND UNUSUAL MARRIAGE TO WILL SMITH: ‘SHE HURT HIM WAY MORE’

“It’s time for everybody to forgive Will Smith,” he added.

Last month, Serena Williams opened up in regards to the Oscars slap and stated she thought it “overshadowed” the movie.

Richard Williams is seen on the Sony Open Tennis match at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 29, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Uri Schanker/GC Images)

“I assumed it was such an unimaginable movie, and I really feel that there was an unimaginable movie after that with Questlove that sort of was overshadowed,” she informed CBS’ Gayle King. “But I additionally really feel that I’ve been able the place I’ve been below quite a lot of strain and made an amazing quantity of errors, and I’m the sort of individual that’s like, ‘I’ve been there. I’ve made a mistake. It’s not the top of the world.

“We’re all imperfect, and we’re all human, and let’s simply be sort to one another. So, that’s typically forgotten loads.”

Richard Williams watches his daughter Venus Williams’ match towards Jelena Jankovic of Serbia throughout day 10 of the 2007 U.S. Open on the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 5, 2007 within the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

Rock spoke in regards to the slap in his new Netflix comedy particular “Selective Outrage.”