Around three months after the slapping incident took place, the 'King Richard' star lets out an emotional video in which he claimed the comic has yet to forgive him for his shocking attack.
- Jul 30, 2022
AceShowbiz - Will Smith has issued a grovelling apology to Chris Rock for slapping him at the Oscars. Despite his effort in reaching out to the 57-year-old comic, the "Bad Boys for Life" star also claimed the former has not yet forgiven him for the attack at 2022's Academy Awards.
In an Instagram video posted Friday, July 29, Will said that he was "fogged out" and "fuzzy" at the time of the slap, which was why he didn't say sorry to Chris at the time.
Will added in a question and answer session which he said was filled with "fair" questions from fans, "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. 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."
The 53-year-old actor also apologized to Chris' mother and entire family, saying, "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."
Will insisted his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, did not instruct him to slap Chris, adding he takes full responsibility for what happened. He said he instead chose to slap the stand-up based on their "history."
"I spent the last three months replaying and understanding the nuances and the complexities of what happened in that moment," he said. "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."
Oscars award presenter Chris had joked Jada looked like "GI Jane" due to her shaven head, with many speculating Will took offence as she had recently revealed she has cut her hair to cover up her alopecia. Will stormed the stage and slapped Chris, then twice howled after he returned to his seat, "Keep my wife's name out your f****** mouth."
When he later picked up his Best Actor trophy for his role in "King Richard" the same night he failed to apologize to Chris. Will went on, "I made a choice of my own from my own experiences from my history with Chris. Jada had nothing to do with it. I'm sorry, babe. I want to say sorry to my kids and my family for the heat that I brought on all of us."
"To all my fellow nominees, this is a community. It's like, I won because you voted for me and it breaks my heart to have stolen and tarnished your moment… disappointing people is my central trauma. I hate when I let people down so it hurts," he added. "It hurts me psychologically and emotionally to know I didn't live up to people's image and impression of me, and the work I am trying to do is I am deeply remorseful."
"And I'm trying to be remorseful without being ashamed of myself," he continued. "I'm human and I made a mistake and I'm trying not to think of myself as a piece of s**t. "I would say to those people I know it was confusing, I know it was shocking, but I promise you I am deeply devoted and committed to putting light and love and joy into the world. And, you know, if you hang on I promise we'll be able to be friends again,' he said to the fans he had let down."
