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Jada Pinkett Smith Breaks Silence on Oscars Slap, Hopes Will Smith and Chris Rock 'Reconcile'

Pinkett Smith finally addressed the Oscars controversy in a new episode of Red Table Talk.
  • Jada Pinkett Smith on Red Table Talk (Photo: Facebook/Jordan Fisher)
    Jada Pinkett Smith on Red Table Talk (Photo: Facebook/Jordan Fisher)

    Jada Pinkett Smith has broken her silence on the Oscars slap. In a new episode of Red Table Talk released Wednesday, the actor and host said she wants Will Smith and Chris Rock to "reconcile" in the wake of the infamous incident.

    Wednesday's episode of the Facebook Watch series focused on the topic of alopecia, which Pinkett Smith has struggled with over the past few months. As a result of her diagnosis, Pinkett Smith shaved her head, prompting Rock to joke about her looking like "G.I. Jane" at the Oscars.

    "This is a really important Red Table Talk on alopecia," said Pinkett Smith. "Considering what I've been through and what happened at the Oscars, thousands have reached out to me with their stories. I'm using this moment to give our alopecia family an opportunity to talk about what it's like to have this condition and to inform people about what alopecia actually is."

    "Now, about Oscar night, my deepest hope is that these two intelligent, capable men have an opportunity to heal, talk this out, and reconcile," she continued. "The state of the world today, we need 'em both, and we all actually need one another more than ever. Until then, Will and I are continuing to do what we have done for the last 28 years, and that's keep figuring out this thing called life together. Thank you for listening."

    After addressing the incident, Pinkett Smith moved on with the episode and introduced her guests, including the mother of 12-year-old Rio Allred, who took her own life after being bullied for her alopecia, and former NBA player Charlie Villanueva, who has struggled with alopecia.

    As a result of the Oscars slap, Smith was suspended from the Academy for 10 years, though the King Richard star voluntarily resigned before the suspension was handed down. Rock has not yet made a statement addressing the slap, aside from a few jokes on his stand-up tour.

    Red Table Talk is available to stream on Facebook Watch.

    Deena ElGenaidi's writing has been featured in Nylon, MTV News, Insider, The AV Club, and more. You can follow her on Twitter @deenaelg.

    TOPICS: Jada Pinkett Smith, Red Table Talk, Chris Rock, Will Smith, Oscars