Steve Harvey Lost Respect for Will Smith after Oscars Slap

Brett SmithMay 11, 2022

It’s been nearly two months since Will Smith shocked everyone by slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars, but the world is still reeling from it.

In a new speech at Georgia State University, the “Family Feud” host Steve Harvey is revealing why being a Christian partly led to him losing respect for Smith following this incident.

‘My Christianity on a scale of 1 to 10; I am 2 and if Will Smith was to slap me he would see how it would have ended’ – Steve Harvey pic.twitter.com/IL969x2J8y

— Hot News Afrique (@HotNewsAfrique) May 10, 2022

Harvey ‘Lost A Lot Of Respect For’ Smith

Harvey reportedly described Smith slapping Rock as a “punk move,” adding that he’s “lost a lot of respect for” Smith.

“I’m a Christian, but I’m really undeveloped,” Harvey said, according to The New York Post. “I don’t have high-level Christianity. On a scale of 1 to 10, I’m like a 2. That’s the level of Christianity I can work on.”

“You slap [Dallas-based megachurch bishop] T.D. Jakes, he’ll turn the other cheek. You slap me? If you sit back in your seat, Jada would have to move out of the way,” he added. “That’s the type of Christian I am.”

Smith Slaps Rock

Smith slapped Rock after the comedian made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, who suffers from alopecia, being bald. Smith has since resigned from the Academy and been banned from all Academy events, including the Oscars, for the next decade.

“My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful and inexcusable,” he said at the time. “The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home.”

Jada Pinkett Smith Speaks Out

Last month, Jada briefly addressed the controversy when her Facebook Watch show “Red Table Talk” returned.

“Considering all that has happened in the last few weeks, the Smith family has been focused on deep healing,” read a title card at the beginning of the season premiere. Some of the discoveries around our healing will be shared at the table when the time calls.”

“Until then the table will continue offering itself to powerful, inspiring and healing testimonies like that of our incredibly impressive first guest,” the card added.

Smith ‘Has Been Going To Therapy’

Smith’s career has already suffered in the wake of this incident, with multiple projects of his being put on hold. A source told Entertainment Tonight this week that Smith “has been going to therapy after the Oscars incident” in the hopes of bettering himself. He was also recently spotted in India, though it is not immediately clear why he was there.

As for Rock, he’s already returned to standup comedy but has stayed relatively quiet about the slap. It will certainly be interesting to see what he says about it in the future, and what becomes of Smith’s career.