Entertainment
Serena Williams’ Father Seeks Forgiveness For Will Smith’s ‘Oscars Slap’
Richard Williams, father of Serena Williams, has requested forgiveness on behalf of Will Smith regarding the famous “Oscars Slap” at the 2022 Academy Awards.
Smith had physically confronted comedian Chris Rock on stage after a comment was made about his wife’s haircut.
Richard defended Smith’s actions on the UK TV show “Good Morning Britain,” stating that he did nothing wrong.
He said he does not feel sorry for the comedian, but asked the public to forgive Smith.
“I’ll always stand by him,” Richard said.
“I think he has done the best thing he needed to do, but I would never be disgusted with Mr. Smith. Matter of fact, I appreciate Mr. Smith.
“I’m 81 years old but when I was about 51 years or younger, I almost killed any damn one, so I think Mr. Smith done a great deal now.
“It’s time for everyone to forgive Will Smith.”
The retired tennis coach also urged the AMPAS to lift its 10-year ban on Smith.
“It should be just one day or no more than a week at the most,” he added.
Richard’s viewpoint comes at about the same time when Rock said the incident still hurts.
“They say, ‘words hurt’. Anybody that says words hurt has never been punched in the face,” the comedian said.
Smith had apologised for his action describing it as “unacceptable.”
“There is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave at that moment. I am deeply remorseful and I’m trying to be remorseful without being ashamed of myself,” he said.
Nollywood has been thrown into mourning following the death of veteran actor, Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo, at the age of 66.
Hassan reportedly died on Sunday, August 23, 2026, after battling cancer.
The actor’s death was announced by his daughter, Kira Taiwo, in an emotional video circulating on social media.
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In the video, Kira, who was visibly distraught, repeatedly said, “My daddy is dead,” as she announced the passing of her father.
The development came days after Kira and her sister, Haleemah, disclosed that the veteran actor had been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.
The sisters had appealed for public support as the family sought treatment options for their father.
Hassan was a prominent figure in the Nigerian film industry, particularly in Yoruba-language productions, where he established himself as one of the veteran actors with a long and influential career.
Nigerian Afrobeats superstar, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, is set to headline the “Davido & Friends” concert at the Crystal Palace Bowl in London on Friday, August 14, 2026.
The highly anticipated concert is part of the Palace Bowl Presents summer festival series in the United Kingdom.
SEE MORE: Fresh Trouble For Davido As Alleged Daughter Accuses Singer of Threats
Davido had earlier announced the event on his social media platforms, describing it as his first-ever festival performance in the UK and his only outdoor show in London this summer.
The singer will be joined on stage by a lineup of artistes including Omah Lay, Black Sherif, Gabzy, T x C, Jazzwrld & Thukuthela, Ecool, Morravey and Boi Chase.
According to the official Palace Bowl Presents website, the event is scheduled to begin with doors opening at 3 p.m., while the concert is expected to end at 10:30 p.m.
Ahead of the performance, Davido on Wednesday shared promotional artwork for the concert on his Instagram Story, featuring a “SOLD OUT” banner and expressing his excitement about the upcoming London show.
The sold-out event is expected to attract fans of the Nigerian music star and other Afrobeats performers for an evening of live music at the iconic Crystal Palace venue.
Nigerian music star, Innocent Idibia, popularly known as 2Baba, and his estranged wife, Annie Idibia, have sparked fresh speculation about their relationship after following each other again on Instagram.
The development has caught the attention of fans, coming more than a year after 2Baba publicly announced their separation and revealed that they were filing for divorce.
Checks on Monday showed that the former couple, who had previously unfollowed each other on Instagram, are now following each other again.
SEE ALSO: 2Face Remarries, Holds Traditional Wedding With Natasha Osawaru (Photos)
The move has triggered speculation across social media, with some fans wondering whether the development could signal a possible reconciliation between the two.
Annie has also reportedly reverted to the name Annie Idibia on Instagram after recently changing it to Annie Macaulay, adding further fuel to the growing speculation.
However, neither 2Baba nor Annie has confirmed that they are planning to reconcile or revive their marriage.
The latest development comes after years of public scrutiny surrounding the couple’s relationship.
2Baba announced in January 2025 that he and Annie had been separated for some time and were “currently filing for divorce.”
The announcement generated widespread reactions, particularly given the couple’s long and sometimes turbulent relationship.
The singer initially deleted the post amid claims that his Instagram account had been hacked but later confirmed that he was responsible for the announcement.
2Baba and Annie’s relationship dates back to the early years of the singer’s career. Annie featured in the music video for his hit song African Queen, and the pair eventually got married in 2013.
They held two wedding ceremonies, with their traditional wedding taking place in Akwa Ibom State and their white wedding held in Dubai.
Their marriage subsequently faced several public controversies, including disputes surrounding 2Baba’s relationships with other women and his children from previous relationships.
In 2021, their marital crisis attracted significant public attention after Annie accused 2Baba of travelling to the United States to spend time with Pero Adeniyi, the mother of some of his children.
Despite the challenges, the couple remained together and renewed their vows in 2023 to mark their 10th wedding anniversary.
Their relationship later suffered another major setback, eventually leading to 2Baba’s separation announcement in 2025.
Following the separation, 2Baba went on to marry Edo State lawmaker Natasha Osawaru.
While the latest Instagram connection does not confirm a reunion, it has nevertheless reignited discussions about the possibility of 2Baba and Annie making peace.
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