LOS ANGELES — Will Smith has apologized to Chris Rock for slapping the comedian at the Oscars earlier this year, addressing the incident in a new video posted to social media.
“It’s been a minute…” reads the text at the start of the video. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and personal work over the last few months… You asked a lot of honest questions that I wanted to take a moment to answer.”
The first question Smith answered was why he didn’t apologize to Rock in his acceptance speech after winning the best actor statue for “King Richard.”
Smith said he was “in a daze from that moment on” and the events were “all a blur”.
Smith said he reached out to Rock and the response he got was that the comedian “wasn’t ready to talk,” adding that when Rock felt ready, “he would reach out” to Smith.
“So I’m going to tell you, Chris, I’m sorry,” the Fresh Prince of Bel Air alum said. “My behavior was unacceptable and I’m here when you’re ready to talk.”
During this year’s Academy Awards, held on March 27, Smith took the stage and slapped Rock, who was presenting, after the comedian joked about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, starring in a defunct sequel to “G.I. Jane”.
The 1997 film starred Demi Moore as the first woman to enter Navy SEAL training.
The Rock supposedly made the joke because of Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, as Moore shaved her head for the role.
Pinkett Smith has previously been open about her struggle with alopecia, an autoimmune disease that attacks hair follicles, sharing posts on social media about her hair loss and decision to shave her head.
MORE: Oscars drama sheds light on Jada Pinkett Smith’s alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss
After the infamous slap, Smith apologized, resigned his membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — the organization behind the Oscars — and the Academy banned the actor from any Academy event or program, including the Oscars, for 10 years.
Smith also apologized to Rock’s mother, Rosalie, because he saw an interview she did and how hurt she was by the situation. He also apologized to The Rock’s brother Tony, saying their previously “great relationship” was now “probably beyond repair”.
“It was one of the things at that point that I just didn’t realize and, you know, didn’t think about, but how many people were hurt at that point,” Smith said this week of the altercation.
As for how he feels looking back on the incident, Smith said he’s spent the last few months “replaying and understanding the nuances and complexities of what happened at that point.”
“I’m not going to try to unpack all of that right now,” he said. “But I can tell all of you that there is no part of me that thinks this is the right way to behave at this point. There’s no part of me that thinks that’s the optimal way to deal with feeling disrespected or offended.”
SEE ALSO: Will Smith banned from Academy events, programs for 10 years for slapping Chris Rock at Oscars
Another question Smith tackled was whether Pinkett Smith told him to do something after she rolled her eyes at Rock’s joke. To this he firmly said no.
“I made a choice on my own, from my own experience, from my history with Chris. Jada had nothing to do with it,” he said, apologizing to his family for his actions and the negative attention they received because of them.
“I’m sorry honey. I want to apologize to my children and family for the heat I brought to all of us,” he said.
Smith then addressed his fellow nominees and winners, saying: “It really breaks my heart that I stole and tarnished your moment.”
He specifically addressed Questlove, who accepted the award for best documentary for his film “Summer of Soul” moments after the slap.
“I can still see Questlove’s eyes,” he said. “You know, it happened at the Questlove award and, you know, it’s like ‘I’m sorry’ really isn’t enough.”
He then shared what he would say to those who ‘looked up’ to him before the moment or those who expressed that his behavior tonight left them ‘disappointed’.
“So there are two things: First, disappointing people is my primary trauma,” he said. “I hate it when I let people down, so it hurts.”
Smith said it affects him “psychologically and emotionally” to know he “doesn’t fit the image and impression” people have of him.
“… I deeply repent and try to feel remorse without being ashamed of myself,” he said. “I’m human and I’ve made a mistake. And I try not to think of myself as dirt.”
Addressing those disappointed members of his fan base, he added: “I know it was confusing, I know it was shocking, but I promise you that I am deeply committed and dedicated to putting light and love and joy into the world. And you know, if you hold on, I promise we can be friends again.”
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