Will Smith Tenders Official Public Apology to Chris Rock for the Oscars Slap

Will Smith has issued an official apology for striking presenter Chris Rock at Sunday’s Oscars Awards.

On Sunday, Rock was onstage at the Oscars to present Best Documentary, and he began sending barbs out into the crowd as usual. After making a quip about Denzel Washington, Rock turned his attention to Jada Pinkett Smith, saying he was looking forward to seeing her in G.I. Jane II. (Pinkett Smith was sporting a buzzcut, just like Demi Moore’s character in the 1997 film G.I. Jane). But Pinkett Smith had been open about her struggles with hair loss and bald spots caused by alopecia.

Smith then took the stage to give Rock a resounding slap. Although it appeared to be a joke at first, Smith returned to his seat and yelled at Rock, “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth!”

In a post on Instagram on Monday afternoon, Smith called his behavior “unacceptable and inexcusable”, and beckoned on Rock to forgive his actions.

“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.

I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.

I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us.

I am a work in progress”.

Will Smith has issued an official apology for striking presenter Chris Rock at Sunday’s Oscars Awards.

On Sunday, Rock was onstage at the Oscars to present Best Documentary, and he began sending barbs out into the crowd as usual. After making a quip about Denzel Washington, Rock turned his attention to Jada Pinkett Smith, saying he was looking forward to seeing her in G.I. Jane II. (Pinkett Smith was sporting a buzzcut, just like Demi Moore’s character in the 1997 film G.I. Jane). But Pinkett Smith had been open about her struggles with hair loss and bald spots caused by alopecia.

Smith then took the stage to give Rock a resounding slap. Although it appeared to be a joke at first, Smith returned to his seat and yelled at Rock, “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth!”

In a post on Instagram on Monday afternoon, Smith called his behavior “unacceptable and inexcusable”, and beckoned Rock to forgive his actions.

“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.

I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.

I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees, and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress’.