Jada Pinkett Smith Makes First Red Carpet Appearance Since Will Smith's Oscars Slap Incident

Jada Pinkett Smith made a red-carpet appearance at the grand opening of the Rhimes Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The outing marked her first since the 94^th Academy Awards controversy on March 28.

Jada attended the star-studded affair wearing a flowy, glittery gold dress with matching gold earrings. She flashed a big smile on the red carpet as she stood alongside “Grey’s Anatomy” creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes and Emmy winner Debbie Allen.

She was also photographed beside Samuel L. Jackson and LaTanya Richardson Jackson at one point during the evening.

The Rhimes Performing Arts Center will be home to the Debbie Allen Dance Academy and include a studio named after the “Matrix: Resurrections” star and Jada's husband, Will Smith. Jada, who has kept mum since her husband smacked comedian Chris Rock during the 2022 Oscars broadcast, was all smiles during the event but refused to do interviews.

On April 9, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced in a statement that Will would be banned from attending any Academy events for a decade following the slapping incident.

“The Board has decided, for a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith shall not be permitted to attend any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards,” said Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson.

The Academy made the decision during a Board of Governors meeting in Los Angeles on April 8. According to CNN, the meeting had been initially scheduled for April 18 but was expedited following Will’s resignation from the Academy last week. Following the Academy’s announcement, Will issued a statement, saying, “I accept and respect the Academy’s decision.”

Meanwhile, Jada is reportedly “not angry” with her husband after what he did but wishes she did not get physical with Chris Rock. A week after the incident, a source told US Magazine, “It was in the heat of the moment and it was him overreacting. He knows that, she knows that. They’re in agreement that he overreacted.”