Will Smith has apologized for slapping Chris Rock at Sunday night’s Oscars ceremony, saying his behavior was ‘unacceptable and inexcusable’ and left him ’embarrassed’.
The 53-year-old wrote in an Instagram post that he was ’embarrassed’ by his actions, which shocked the ceremony attendees, producers, and viewers
‘Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive,’ he wrote.
‘My behaviour at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. 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 apologise 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 then went on to say sorry to the organisers and the producers of the show.
Rock has not responded to Smith’s apology or commented on the Sunday night incident.
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Smith also extended his apology to the family of Venus and Serena Williams.
Shortly after slapping Rock, Smith won the best actor award for his portrayal of their father Richard – but the story of their family was overshadowed by Smith’s attack.
Richard Williams – who the Oscar-winner portrays in King Richard – said after the attack that he condemns violence.
Chavoita LeSane, Williams’ son, told NBC: ‘We don’t know all the details of what happened. But we don’t condone anyone hitting anyone else unless it’s in self-defense.’
Smith said: ‘I would also like to apologise to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees, and everyone watching around the world,’ Smith continued.
‘I would like to apologise to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family.
‘I deeply regret that my behaviour has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us.’
The Philadelphia-born actor concluded: ‘I am a work in progress. Sincerely, Will.’
His apology came as the group that hands out the Oscars on Monday condemned Smith’s actions and said it had started a formal review of the incident that cast a shadow over the film honors.
Smith strode on stage during the live telecast and struck Rock in the face after the comedian made a joke about the appearance of Smith’s wife.
Smith’s meltdown continued when he returned to his seat as he repeatedly screamed: ‘Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth’.
The crowd then fell into stunned silence as it became clear the attack was genuine, and not staged.
Rock replied to him saying: ‘I’m going to, okay?’
He then laughed uncomfortably, saying: ‘That was the greatest night in the history of television’.
Smith’s sweary rant was muted by directors because the show’s live broadcast is slightly delayed in the US.
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But it was aired in full to some international audiences with the uncut clip already being viewed more than a million times on social media and YouTube in the first few hours.
Any questions over whether the altercation was genuine were answered when just over half an hour later Smith was given the Best Actor award and apologised for the assault.
In his acceptance speech, a crying Smith said: ‘Love makes you do crazy things, as he clutched his Oscar statuette.
‘You gotta be able to take abuse, and you gotta be able to have people talk crazy about you,’ Smith said.
‘In this business, you gotta be able to have people disrespecting you, and you gotta smile and you gotta pretend like that’s OK.
‘Denzel (Washington) said to me a few minutes ago, he said, “At your highest moment, be careful. That’s when the devil comes for you.”
‘It’s like I want to be a vessel for love.
‘I want to say thank you to Venus and Serena. I want to say thank you to Venus and Serena and the entire Williams family for entrusting me with your story. That’s what I want to do. I want to be an ambassador of that kind of love and care and concern.’
The actor went on: ‘I want to apologize to the Academy, I want to apologise to all my fellow nominees.
‘Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said. I look like the crazy father just like they said about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things’.
He added: ‘I’m hoping the Academy invites me back. Thank you’.
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