Jim Carrey Was ‘Sickened’ Over Reaction To Will Smith Slapping Chris Rock

In the aftermath of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars this Sunday night (March 29) for telling a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's alopecia condition, Jim Carrey weighed in on the debate. In a new interview with CBS Mornings, Carrey told Gayle King that he was repulsed by Hollywood's reaction.

"I was sickened," he said "I was sickened by the standing ovation. I felt like Hollywood is just spineless en masse. It really felt like: 'Oh, this is really a clear indication that we're not the cool club anymore.'"

Carrey also made it clear that he felt Smith should have faced more serious repercussions for slapping Rock, even though the presenter declined to press charges. "He didn't want the hassle," Carrey speculated about why Rock didn't pursue legal action. "I would have announced this morning that I was suing Will for $200 million because that video is going to be there forever. It's going to be ubiquitous. That insult is going to last a very long time."

In his CBS Mornings interview, Carrey clarified that he "doesn't have anything against Will Smith," but holds him responsible for making the Oscar night about him instead of the winners. "It cast a pall over everybody's shining moment last night," he said. "A lot of people worked really hard to get to that place and to have their moment in the sun and to get their award for the really hard work they did. It is no mean feat to go through all of the stuff you have to go through when you're nominated for an Oscar. It's a gauntlet of devotion that you have to do. It was just a selfish moment that cast a pall over the whole thing."

Will has since posted an apology to Chris Rock on his Instagram account. It read: “Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior 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. I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress.”