Will Smith apologises to Chris Rock in new video
Three months after the now infamous Will Smith/Chris Rock Oscar Awards saga, Will Smith has broken his silence.
In a video released on Friday morning, Smith offered up a long-awaited public apology to Rock for slapping him onstage in a televised broadcast.
READ: Will Smith, Chris Rock confrontation shocks Oscar audience
The footage of the slap, which went viral on social media, caused quite the controversy with many dubbing Smith’s actions as wrong and uncalled for.
In his apology, Smith, describing the moment as “fuzzy”, admits that his behaviour was unacceptable and revealed that whenever Rock is willing to speak, he is available.
“It is all fuzzy. 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 apologise to you. My behaviour was unacceptable and I am here whenever you are ready to talk,” Smith said while also offering up apologies to Chris Rock’s mother.
“I want to apologise to Chris’s mother. I saw an interview [she] did, and that was one of the things I just didn’t realise. I wasn’t thinking, but how many people got hurt in that moment. I want to apologise to Chris’ mother, I want to apologise to Chris’s family, specifically Tony Rock. We had a great relationship. Tony Rock was my man. This is probably irreparable.”
Smith said he spent the last three months understanding the nuance and complexity of what happened in that moment.
“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,” he continued.
Smith’s apology and ‘interview’ regarding the Oscar slap came in the form of a question and answer session. The actor fielded questions sent in via social media as he sought to bring clarity to one of the most talked about moments in television history.
Days after the TV debacle, Smith took to his social media accounts to offer an apology to Rock and the Academy for his behaviour. He was, however, given a ten-year ban by the motion picture academy.
READ: Will Smith gets 10-year Oscars ban over Chris Rock slap
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