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Celebrity

29th Mar 2022

Will Smith apologises to Chris Rock for slapping him at Oscars

Hugh Carr

“I was out of line and I was wrong.”

Will Smith has apologised to Chris Rock for slapping him as he presented an Oscar at the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday (27 March).

Smith attacked the comedian following a joke at the expense of his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Jada has a shaved head following a diagnosis of alopecia, which she made public in 2018.

“Jada, I love you. GI Jane 2, can’t wait to see it,” Chris Rock jibed.

The original GI Jane starred Demi Moore playing the role of a US Navy SEAL, where she sported a shaved head.

Moments after the joke, Will rose from his seat and made his way towards Rock, slapping him before returning to his seat.

In his acceptance speech for winning Best Actor, Will apologised to the Academy for his earlier behaviour.

“To the Academy, I want to apologise to all my fellow nominees,” Smith said.

“Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams.

“Love will make you do crazy things.

“Thank you for this moment, and thank you on behalf of Richard and Oracene and the Williams family.

“I hope the Academy invites me back,” he concluded.

 

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Smith took to Instagram to share an apology directed at Chris Rock on Monday night (28 March).

“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive,” Smith wrote.

“My behavior 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 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.

“I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world.

“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.

“I am a work in progress,” he concluded.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science have begun a formal review into the incident, where they will “explore further action and consequences” for Smith’s outburst.