Will Smith is still getting public support for slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars, this time from his King Richard co star Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor . During an Aug. 13, 2026 appearance on The Daily Beast’s “Obsessed” podcast, Ellis-Taylor said she understood Smith’s impulse to defend his wife. Chris Rock had joked about Jada Pinkett Smith ’s shaved head, referencing “G.I. Jane,” before Smith walked onstage and struck him. Smith later won Best Actor for King Richard, apologized publicly the next day, and called the incident “unacceptable” and “inexcusable.” Does Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor Regret Taking Smith’s Side? Ellis-Taylor said she continues to stand by Smith’s desire to protect Pinkett Smith, while also arguing that free speech should not become a shield for language that causes harm. The Mississippi native compared that view to hearing people defend the Confederate flag under the broadest possible reading of First Amendment rights. The Academy banned Smith from its events for 10 years, and the fallout contributed to heightened scrutiny around his career, including the delayed release of Emancipation. Ellis-Taylor also praised Smith’s behavior on the King Richard set, saying he made a point of looking after the people around him and refused to tolerate mistreatment in his presence.