For all the drama that ensued at the Oscars ceremony when he slapped comic Chris Rock on live television, newly minted Oscar winner Will Smith seemed not to have a care in the world at the Vanity Fair afterparty, celebrating his big win on the dance floor.
Smith was spotted owning the dance floor at Oscar night's most exclusive bash, holding his Oscar aloft while rapping along to some of his own classic songs like "Summertime" and "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" as a throng of fans and friends joined in.
It was a decidedly different mood after what had become a truly dramatic Oscar night.
See video of Smith celebrating his Best Actor win below.
Will Smith is celebrating and dancing to his own hits at the Vanity Fair #Oscars party - via @nekesamumbipic.twitter.com/c118DPVPjk— The Hollywood Reporter (@The Hollywood Reporter) 1648455269
Vanity Fair's legendary after-party is second only to the ceremony itself in the ranks of Oscar night's most coveted invitations, and it's where many of awards season's most memorable moments are made.
But the party had stiff competition in that regard this year, with even Smith's long-awaited Best Actor win for King Richard being eclipsed by the incident in which Smith slapped Rock after he made a joke about Smith's wife actress Jada Pinkett-Smith's hair loss.
The moment stunned the audience, including tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams, whose father Richard was the subject of Smith's now Oscar-winning performance in King Richard. In a video posted to her Instagram story moments later, Serena Williams was left slack-jawed by the altercation.
But at the big post-Oscars bash, the conflict seemed out of sight, out of mind for Smith and his fellow attendees alike. Smith jumped, danced and waved his statuette triumphantly in the air while celebrities like Pinkett-Smith, Trevor Noah and Lupita N'yongo encircled him on the dance floor.
When asked by Variety how he was feeling, victory and celebration seemed to be all that were on Smith's mind. He replied:
“It’s all about love."
On Twitter, many were glad that the altercation didn't overshadow Smith's big celebration.
If moving on was a person— Kim Hill (@Kim Hill) 1648484140
Will is having the time of his life https://twitter.com/marcmalkin/status/1508350283054608384\u00a0\u2026— \ud83d\udfe3 Nirvana (@\ud83d\udfe3 Nirvana) 1648478266
While the internet is having an apoplectic fit over the normalization of violence Will Smith displayed to millions tonight, he\u2019s over at the Vanity Fair after-party having a fantastic time.pic.twitter.com/RcojM7ekls— Toby Bartlett \uea00 (@Toby Bartlett \uea00) 1648461020
I appreciate that @VanityFair is trying not to let the Will Smith issue overshadow the rest of the night and the interviews at the after-party. I feel so bad for others who should be allowed their big moments without it being tainted by this.— Jenna Glatzer \ud83c\udf0a (@Jenna Glatzer \ud83c\udf0a) 1648440132
as he shouldhttps://twitter.com/Variety/status/1508479014679179264\u00a0\u2026— Alina (@Alina) 1648484656
Lmao Will's publicist is trying very hard to restore his chill,easy going image tonight. Hope he pays her extra— Noma Mabandla (@Noma Mabandla) 1648463989
He is, after all, the Best Actorhttps://twitter.com/consequence/status/1508429906719485954\u00a0\u2026— Milktea Alliance 8\u20e31\u20e37\u20e3 W.S. (@Milktea Alliance 8\u20e31\u20e37\u20e3 W.S.) 1648474173
But others found Smith's celebratory attitude inappropriate.
Hollywood is the biggest fcuking double standard on this planet. Y\u2019all are suckers! Will Smith will get away w this shit. But Just reminding all us regular folks, we would be dealing w LAPD or some shit if we did that. Not at the Vanity Fair After Party ok. #Oscars— Joey Arceo (@Joey Arceo) 1648440238
Ok, I\u2019m shocked he went to the after parties and I\u2019m shocked they let him in. No.— InYerDefense (@InYerDefense) 1648497560
Don\u2019t know what the law is, but if police can charge without Chris Rock pressing charges, it ought to be a consideration. This was a public assault.— Cat Balou (@Cat Balou) 1648473134
Celebrations aside, the drama over Smith's altercation with Rock has yet to come to a close: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the organization that administers the Oscars, has announced it is launching an investigation into the incident.
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