Alec Baldwin defends Chris Rock after slap at Oscars

Actor-producer Alec Baldwin has joined those supporting Chris Rock following Will Smith's slapping of the comedian onstage at the Academy Awards Sunday night in an unexpected act of violence that has precipitated discussion worldwide.

"I am not reading much about how, or even if, the producers attended to Chris," tweeted the Amityville-born and Massapequa-raised Baldwin, 63, on his protected Twitter account Tuesday, reposting the tweet on his public Instagram. "But I love you, @chrisrock. And I'm sorry the Oscars turned into the Jerry Springer show," referring to the long-running daytime talk show known for angry exchanges and the occasional physical altercation.

On Monday, NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar penned a blog post denouncing Smith's actions. “With a single petulant blow, he advocated violence, diminished women, insulted the entertainment industry and perpetuated stereotypes about the Black community,” Abdul-Jabbar, 74, wrote.

Presenter Rock, 57, had joked about the close-cropped hair of the actor's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Will Smith, 53, subsequently walked to the stage and struck an unwary Rock. The live camera remained on Rock who expressed surprise but kept his composure. Actor-producer Pinkett Smith has spoken publicly of her hair-loss disease, alopecia, though it was unclear if Rock or any gag writers had been aware.

On Tuesday, Pinkett Smith spoke about the altercation for the first time. "This is a season for healing and I'm here for it," she posted on Instagram.

Will Smith later on Sunday night won best actor for his film "King Richard," a biography of Richard Williams, father and hard-driving coach of tennis phenoms Serena and Venus Williams. In his acceptance speech, Smith apologized to the academy and to his fellow nominees — but not to Rock — for his behavior. The actor, who was recorded dancing and singing to his own song at an Oscars after party, did apologize to Rock the next day on social media.

On Monday, Richard Williams weighed in. "We don't know all the details of what happened," the 80-year-old, who suffered a stroke some time ago, told NBC News via his son, Chavoita LeSane, 48. "But we don't condone anyone hitting anyone else unless it's in self-defense," Williams added. LeSane said Williams was taken by surprise by Smith's actions at the awards ceremony.

Late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, 54, during his monologue Monday compared Smith to "the Hollywood version of your drunk uncle starting a fight, ruining the wedding, and then standing up and giving a long toast to the bride and groom."

Kimmel — who hosted the 89th Academy Awards in February 2017, in which "La La Land" was mistakenly named Best Picture and later corrected to the actual winner, "Moonlight" — joked that he was "a little bummed because I've only now hosted the second-craziest Oscars of all time." Regarding Smith's apology, Kimmel later added, "That's good. I'm glad he did that. I mean, to me, there's only one more step to make this right and that's 'The Comedy Central Roast of Will Smith Hosted by Chris Rock.' "

And "Saturday Night Live" cast member Michael Che on Tuesday posted in graphical text on his Instagram, "[I] think what shocked me the most about will smith's behavior, was how he was able to go from LAUGHING at the joke initially..then slapping someone! then yelling in anger! then delivering a full speech WHILE crying! THEN partying like nothing happened! i mean, what kind of people can just do that..?"

Smith earned denunciation from several others in the entertainment industry for striking Rock, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said in a statement Monday that it "condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night's show. We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our bylaws, standards of conduct and California law."

Rock, who had not commented as of Tuesday afternoon, has not pressed charges.