Entertainment
Will Smith finally apologizes to Chris Rock in emotional video
Months after the altercation at the Oscars, American actor, Will Smith tendered an emotional apology to comedian, Chris Rock.
Recall the actor made headlines months ago when he slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars ceremony for making a joke about the actor’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
Chris Rock, who was unaware that the actor’s wife suffers a medical condition; alopecia, made a joke about her shaven head, which provoked Will Smith to give him a slap at the event.
Despite the slapping incident, Smith won Best Actor for his role in King Richard, however, he did not apologize to Rock in his acceptance speech.
On Friday, July 29, the actor shared the video, answering questions about the incident at the award.
The actor said he sent out a message to Chris, but he (Chris) was not ready to talk to him.
He then apologized to Chris while he addressed why he didn’t apologize during his acceptance speech for best actor.
“I was fogged out by that point,” Smith says. “It’s all fuzzy. I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that he’s not ready to talk and when he is, he will reach out. So I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.”
He also extended his apologies to Rock’s mother, Rose Rock, and brother Tony Rock for his behaviour.
‘I just didn’t realize how many people got hurt in that moment, so I want to apologize to Chris’s mother. I want to apologize.‘
Smith said his wife Jada did not instruct him to slap Rock, and that he takes full responsibility for what happened.
‘I spent the last three months replaying and understanding the nuances and the complexities of what happened in that moment. I’m not going to try to unpack all of that right now but I can say to all of you, there is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment.
‘there is no part of me that thinks that’s the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insults.’
Watch the video below;
