Will Smith apologised to the comedian Chris Rock after slapping him at last Sunday’s Oscars. On Instagram, Will Smith posted a lenghty apology calling his behaviour “unacceptable and inexusable”. Will Smith wrote, “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.”
Smith also issued an apology to the Academy, writing “I would like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world.” He said sorry to Serena Williams’s family, noting, “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.” He concluded by stating, “I am a work in progress. Sincerely, Will.”
Actor Will Smith on Sunday stirred a controversy which changed the course of a monotonous ceremony when he went up to the stage and slapped comedian Chris Rock, after Rock mocked Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. Rock said, “Jada I love you, ‘G.I. Jane 2’, can’t wait to see it.” Soon the camera switched to Jada’s unhappy face, earlier she opened up about her alopecia condition. Later, Rock said, “Oh uh” and was laughing when Smith approached him and stuck his face.
Stephanie Elam, a CNN reporter in the audience, heard the comedian getting hit and also heard Will shouting twice, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f*****ng mouth!”, with Chris responding, “Oh, wow.” The whole auditorium went quiet while the comedian continuing, “That was the greatest night in the history of television.”
After forty minutes, Will arrived on stage again as he won the best actor award for his role in film “King Richard”, while giving his speech he apologised to the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and fellow nominees, not mentioning Chris Rock. After the ceremony, the Academy Awards issued a statement via Twitter over the much-talked about incident, reading, “The Academy does not condone violence of any form. Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world.”