Will Smith Apologizes to Wanda Sykes for 2022 Oscars Slap Overshadowing Hosting

The 2022 Oscars are widely remembered for the moment when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock onstage after a joke about Smith's wife, overshadowing the hosting efforts of Wanda Sykes, Regina Hall, and Amy Schumer. Wanda Sykes has revealed in recent interviews that Will Smith did reach out to apologize to her, though they never had a full conversation because she was ill at the time. This apology contrasts with earlier statements where Sykes said she had not heard from Smith. Despite the incident's impact, Sykes expressed enjoyment working with her cohosts but acknowledged that the event often overshadows their hosting roles. Smith was subsequently banned from the Academy Awards for 10 years and voluntarily resigned from the Academy. The event highlighted the pressures faced by hosts and had significant repercussions in Hollywood.