Will Smith Appears In Public After Rock's Comments About Him At Oscars

By R S Ali

Mar 08, 2016 04:20 AM EST

Will Smith appeared in public in New York City recently, for the first time after 88^th Academy Awards show host Chris Rock poked fun at Smith and wife Jada Pinkett-Smith.

Smith was smiling and showing peace signs at his first public appearance after Rock ridiculed him for his behavior following up to the Oscars.

Chris Rock, who hosted the Oscars this year, made fun of Will Smith and his wife Jada's decision to boycott the most important ceremony for the movie industry - and Jada's appeal to others to boycott it, too.

This year's Oscars were ablaze with reactions trending social media controversy after #OscarsSoWhite had been trending for a while before the Oscars. The controversy addresses the movie industry's failure to nominate a single person of color for an Oscar for the second consecutive year.

Rock talked about the #OscarsSoWhite controversy by saying that "people went nuts" this year. "Spike [Lee] got mad. Jada [Pinkett Smith] went mad. Will [Smith] went mad. Everyone went mad!" he said.

Numerous stars, including Will Smith, wife Jada, Daniels, director Spike Lee, the Rev. Al Sharpton appealed to actors and actresses of color to boycott this year's Oscars ceremony to express indignance at the Academy nominating only white actors and actresses in the four Oscars acting categories.

Rock poked fun at Smith's wife saying that it was incredulous that Jada would boycott the movie awards considering she worked in TV. He referred to her 'not being invited to the ceremony in the first place.

Speaking about Will Smith, Rock said Smith's frustration must stem from not being nominated for his movie "Concussion" - but Rock ridiculed that too, with a punch line implying Smith got overpaid for another one of his movies.

Will Smith, however, seemed oblivious at his first public appearance post-Oscars as he left the set of his new film, "Collateral Beauty" in New York on Monday. The actor smiled, signed autographs and took a few selfies with his fans. He also showed the peace sign.