Questlove was meditating during Will Smith controversy
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Questlove didn’t notice Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars because he was busy meditating.
The 51-year-old star was practising transcendental meditation while Will was clashing with the stand-up comedian, and he had no idea what had occurred when he took to the stage himself just minutes later.
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The musician-turned-director – who was presented with the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature for Summer of Soul by Chris – said on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: “When the commercial break was happening, I was just in my (space).
“So when I opened my eyes, I didn’t realize – why is everyone so quiet? Like, I literally was not present for that whole entire moment.”
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Questlove – whose real name is Ahmir Thompson – started to work out what had just happened moments before he took to the stage to collect his gong.
He explained: “As I’m walking to the stage, I’m kind of putting two and two together, and I realised that that was a real moment, like, maybe three seconds before I spoke words.
“I was not present at all. I was just in a blank space.”
The controversy erupted when Will confronted Chris on stage and struck him in the face after the comedian made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
The stand-up star joked about Jada starring in a new G.I. Jane movie, in an apparent reference to her shaved head, which is the result of her having alopecia.
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However, Will subsequently apologized for his behaviour, saying violence is “poisonous and destructive.”
The 53-year-old actor – who won his first-ever Oscar for King Richard – said on Instagram: “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.
“I would like to publicly apologize 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. (sic)”
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