Get All Access for $5/mo

Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena, disapproves of Will Smith's violent behavior The father of the tennis players and on whom the film starring Will Smith is based, spoke about the actor's behavior.

This article was translated from our Spanish edition.

Rob Foldy | Getty Images

Richard Williams has spoken out about the slap that actor Will Smith gave Chris Rock during the Oscars ceremony on Sunday night. The father of tennis players Serena and Venus Williams, whom Will Smith plays in the film King Richard: A Winning Family , made his opinion known about the incident that went viral through his son and spokesman, Chaviota LeSane .

"We don't know all the details of what happened, but we don't condone anyone hitting anyone unless it's in self-defense," LeSane explained in an interview with NBC News. He added that they were as shocked as the public by Smith's assault, but declined to elaborate.

Shortly after getting up from his seat to walk upstage and slap Chris Rock for his joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett's haircut, Will Smith received the Best Actor award for his portrayal of Richard Williams. In his acceptance speech he referred to the tennis players' father: "Richard Williams fiercely defended his family" and later apologized with tears in his eyes to the public and the Williams sisters, although he did not mention Rock in his speech (at night He apologized through a post on Instagram ).

WHO IS "KING" RICHARD WILLIAMS?

The father of Venus and Serena Williams was born in Shreveport, United States, on February 14, 1942. He married his first wife in 1965 and had three daughters and three sons before divorcing in 1973. In 1979 he met Oracene Prince with whom he married and had two daughters: Venus and Serena. After seeing Virginia Ruzici play on television, she decided that her daughters would be tennis players. He wrote a 78-page plan to lead them to success and began training them himself on public courts from a very young age. Both Williams sisters have won multiple Grand Slam championships, including Wimbledon.

The film King Richards: A Winning Family , starring Will Smith, is based on his life. If you haven't seen them, the tape is available on HBO Max, Apple TV and YouTube.

DON'T MISS A SINGLE STORY! FOLLOW ENTREPRENEUR IN SPANISH ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER .

Entrepreneur Staff

Entrepreneur Staff

Editor

For more than 30 years, Entrepreneur has set the course for success for millions of entrepreneurs and small business owners. We'll teach you the secrets of the winners and give you exactly what you need to lay the groundwork for success.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Side Hustle He Started in His College Apartment Turned Into a $70,000-a-Month Income Stream — Then Earned Nearly $2 Million Last Year

Kyle Morrand and his college roommates loved playing retro video games — and the pastime would help launch his career.

Making a Change

Learn All of Rosetta Stone's Languages for $152

A lifetime subscription is nearly $250 off for a limited time.

Leadership

How His Personal Battle With Cancer Inspired This Founder's Solution for Patient Care

On this episode of "The Founder CEO," Michael O'Neil, founder and CEO of GetWellNetwork, discusses his inspiring journey as a leader and the transformative role of AI in healthcare.

Marketing

5 SEO Hacks to Help You Rank Fast

Discover the best SEO hacks you can use to rank fast and avoid waiting for months to see results.

Business News

Homeowners in These 10 States Pay the Most in 'Hidden' Upkeep Costs

Hidden home costs pile on top of mortgage payments.

Starting a Business

Inside the Exclusive Private Club Devoted to Food, Wine and the Arts

Barrett Wissman breaks down the passions and partnerships behind his latest venture Domus Artium Reserve.