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Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Terry Crews backs Will Smith over Oscars slap: 'I've done worse'

Terry Crews
Terry Crews has said he has 'done worse' than Will Smith. (Getty)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine star Terry Crews has supported his friend Will Smith over his Oscars slap controversy, saying "I've done worse".

The actor said that he was good friends with both Smith and Chris Rock, but claimed that "the punishment did not fit the crime" when it came to the reaction to what Smith had done.

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Talking to The Hollywood Reporter, Crews, 53, said: "Both Will Smith and Chris Rock are dear, dear friends of mine - I love them both as brothers, but there was a time in my life where I was Will Smith at that moment and let me tell you I’ve done worse than Will.

HOLLYWOOD, CA - March 27, 2022.    Will Smith slaps Chris Rock onstage during the show  at the 94th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 27, 2022.  (Myung Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Will Smith slapped Chris Rock onstage at the Oscars. (Getty Images)

"Like people were like, ‘What in the world are you doing?’ My wife even had to be like, ‘You got to promise me you will never go off like this. You did not need to pick this man up and put him on his head, on the concrete.'

"(It was) overkill, the punishment did not fit the crime. I’m very thankful to Chris, but also I understand Will. I’m not [one] to demonise Will at all because I was there."

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Smith shocked the Oscars ceremony audience when he got up on stage to slap comedian Rock after he made a joke about the actor's wife Jada Pinkett Smith's alopecia and then swore at Rock from his seat.

Terry Crews attends the
Terry Crews said he could identify with both of his friends. (FilmMagic)

He went on to win the Best Actor award for King Richard, which he accepted on stage, and danced with his trophy at the afterparty but later resigned from the Academy and was banned from Oscars events for 10 years.

In a statement about his resignation, Smith said: "My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable. The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home."

Watch: Terry Crews relates to both Will Smith and Chris Rock in Oscars slap debacle