Will Smith congratulates Michael B Jordan on Oscars win… amid decade-long ban from ceremony for THAT slap

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Michael B. Jordan thanked Will Smith while accepting his Best Actor Oscar on Sunday night, and Smith publicly acknowledged the shout-out, even though he’s been barred from the awards show for ten years.

At the 98th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, 39-year-old Michael B. Jordan acknowledged the previous Black actors who had won Best Actor and Actress awards while accepting his own.

I’m here today thanks to the legacy of incredible actors who paved the way: Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, and Will Smith.

I want to be considered among the best, alongside those who came before me, my heritage, and my peers.

Smith, 57, congratulated the young actor on his award via Instagram on Monday, posting photos of him with the trophy and writing, ‘CONGRATS, Beloved. Makin’ History!’

In April 2022, Will Smith received a 10-year ban from the Academy Awards after slapping Chris Rock during the ceremony. Despite this, he was permitted to keep the Best Actor award he had already won.

Following a meeting, The Academy announced that Will Smith would be banned from attending any Academy events, including the Oscars, for ten years, starting April 8, 2022. This ban applies to both in-person and virtual events.

The incident caused a strong reaction, splitting opinions in Hollywood and among the general public. Some people believed he should lose his Oscar as a consequence of his actions, arguing that violence shouldn’t be celebrated, while others downplayed the event and made fun of it online.

Will Smith hit Chris Rock during an awards show after Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith’s hair. Pinkett-Smith has previously shared that she has alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss.

Following the slap, Smith went back to his seat and yelled, “Don’t mention my wife’s name like that!”

Will Smith later received the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance as Richard Williams in the movie King Richard. During his acceptance speech, he apologized to the Academy and to Chris Rock, and he followed up with another apology on Instagram.

Jordan stunned everyone at the awards show by winning Best Actor for his role in ‘Sinners,’ defeating favorite Timothée Chalamet. This unexpected win was the biggest surprise and most discussed event of the evening.

He won over the expected frontrunner, Timothée Chalamet, known for his role in Marty Supreme. Other nominees included Leonardo DiCaprio (One Battle After Another), Ethan Hawke (Blue Moon), and Wagner Moura (The Secret Agent).

Jordan couldn’t believe it when he walked onto the stage and was met by Adrien Brody, the previous year’s winner.

He became emotional while giving his acceptance speech, expressing his gratitude to both the audience and those watching at home for their support throughout his career. He shared that he deeply felt their encouragement.

I appreciate all your support and belief in me, and I’m committed to continuing to improve and reach my full potential. Thank you for continuing to have faith in me.

The story follows two brothers who move back to their hometown hoping for a fresh start, but they soon find themselves facing a terrifying new threat: vampires.

Jordan played both twin brothers in the movie: the older, more reserved Elijah, nicknamed ‘Smoke,’ and the younger, more outgoing Elias, known as ‘Stack’.

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2026-03-17 00:05