Will Smith Breaks His Silence And Apologizes To Chris Rock: ‘I’m Here Whenever You’re Ready To Talk’
29.07.2022 - 18:27
/ etcanada.com
Will Smith is finally speaking candidly.
On Friday, the actor released a video in which he addressed the incident at this year’s Oscars in which he slapped host Chris Rock on-stage, apologizing to the comedian.
READ MORE: Kevin Hart Says Will Smith Is Apologetic, ‘In A Better Place,’ After Infamous Oscars Slap
Taking a seat in the video, Smith read off a number of questions people have had about the incident.
“Why didn’t you apologize to Chris in your acceptance speech?” Smith read.
“I was fogged out by that point. It is all fuzzy,” he said of going up to accept his Oscar for Best Actor later in the ceremony.
Smith also said, “I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that, he’s not ready to talk. When he is, he will reach out. I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I am here whenever you are ready to talk.
He continued, “I want to apologize to Chris’s mother. I saw an interview [she] did, and that was one of the things I just didn’t realize. I wasn’t thinking, but how many people got hurt in that moment. I want to apologize to Chris’ mother, I want to apologize to Chris’s family, specifically Tony Rock. We had a great relationship. Tony Rock was my man. This is probably irreparable.”
“I spent the last three months replaying an understanding the nuance and complexity of what happened in that moment,” Smith went on. “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. No part of me that thinks that is the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insult.”
The slap occurred after Rock had made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith,