Carolyn Smith, 85, was a proud mother on Sunday night as she watched her son picked up the award for best actor at the 94th Academy Awards.
However, the shining moment was tainted slightly as Will had smacked comedian Chris on stage in front of the millions watching just minutes before.
Will was defending his wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, after Chris had joked about her hair despite her suffering from hair loss disorder alopecia, and was not the first time Chris had poked fun at the actress from an international stage.
Both Will’s slap and Chris’ joke have proved controversial, being condemned by much of the public, charities and even MPs, although there has also been some support for Will.
Now mother-of-four Carolyn has spoken out about the shocking moment and insisted it was the first time in her life she had ‘ever seen him go off’.
‘He is a very even, people-person,’ she said in an interview with ABC6 news.
‘That’s the first time I’ve ever seen him go off. The first time in his lifetime.’
She admitted it had surprised her, and insisted: ‘I’ve never seen him do that.’
She, along with Will’s siblings, nieces and nephews had gathered at Carolyn’s home in Philadelphia to watch the Oscars in the hopes that Will would finally win an Academy Award – the first in his decades-long career.
Carolyn paid tribute to her son’s work ethic, stating she knows ‘how hard he works, and he never half-steps.’
And despite the chaos of just minutes before, seeing Will be named the winner of best actor for his role in King Richard was an incredible moment, Carolyn said.
‘He had been waiting and waiting and waiting, and I heard the name and I just… yes!‘ she told the outlet, adding that she was ‘proud of him’.
ABC6 host Sharrie Williams added that Carolyn had told her only son to ‘get some rest and go on vacation’ after the highs and lows of the Oscars night.
Will himself has apologised for the incident, saying sorry to the organisers of the awards and to Chris himself with a statement issued the day after the ceremony.
The Fresh Prince of Bel Air actor addressed the shocking incident in an Instagram post, and admitted he was ’embarrassed’ by his actions.
‘Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive,’ he began. ‘My behaviour at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable.
‘Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.’
He continued: ‘I would like to publicly apologise to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong.
‘I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.’
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