It's not the first time Will Smith has resorted to physical action at an awards show.
Approximately ten years ago, during the premiere of “Men in Black III,” he famously slapped a man on the red carpet.
In a viral video from 2012, Will Smith can be seen striking Ukrainian prankster Vitalii Sediuk across the face in Moscow.
Sediuk, who has a reputation for his bizarre interactions with celebrities, crossed the line when he attempted to kiss Smith on both cheeks under the guise of a traditional Ukrainian greeting.
In the footage, Smith forcefully pushes Sediuk away and questions his actions before delivering a swift backhanded slap to his face.
Despite the tense moment, Smith managed to lighten the mood by joking about the incident with the next TV camera crew, implying that Sediuk was fortunate to have only received a slap.
Following the altercation, Smith's peers in the industry showed their support for his actions.
In a subsequent interview on Tidal's Rap Radar podcast, Smith recounted how Jay-Z immediately contacted him after seeing the video.
Reflecting on the incident, Smith expressed his frustration at the sense of entitlement some individuals feel towards celebrities.
He revealed that Jay-Z found the incident amusing and even considered canceling a show to watch the video of the altercation.
Vitalii Sediuk, the recipient of Smith's slap, is known for his history of controversial pranks involving A-list celebrities.
His past stunts include disrupting award shows and events by targeting stars like Adele, Bradley Cooper, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, and America Ferrera.
Despite his own track record of provocative behavior, Sediuk criticized Smith's recent actions towards Chris Rock.
He suggested that while Smith may have a volatile temperament, there could have been a more dignified way to handle the situation, given the actor's status in Hollywood.
Sediuk's remarks imply a belief that celebrities of Will Smith's caliber are often granted leniency for their actions due to their A-list status.
He insinuated that being part of the Hollywood elite allows individuals to escape consequences for their behavior.
In response to inquiries, representatives for Will Smith declined to provide further comments on the matter.
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