Will Smith offers public apology to Chris Rock over slap during Oscars
Will Smith issued apologies to Chris Rock on Monday for slapping the comedian during the Oscars ceremony, as the body that organises the awards said it was launching a formal review of the incident.
Will Smith, who was named best actor on the night --went onto stage during the glitzy Hollywood event and smacked Rock over a joke about wife Jada Pinkett Smith's hair.
"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," the "King Richard" star wrote on Instagram.
"Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night's Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable," Smith said.
"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."
Will Simth’s wife suffers from alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss, and had a closely cropped head at Sunday's event.
The 94th Academy Awards was in its final moment when Will Smith and comedian Chris Rock said that Pinkett Smith appeared ready to star in "G.I. Jane 2" – a supposed sequel to a film about a female soldier who has a shaved head.
After at first appearing to laugh at the joke, Will Smith walked onto the stage and slapped Rock with an open hand.
He then went back to his seat and shouted: "Keep my wife's name out of your f*****g mouth."
The ‘King Richard’ actor tearfully apologized to his fellow nominees and the Academy -- but not Rock -- a few minutes later as he collected his historic Oscar.
"Love will make you do crazy things," he said.
On Monday, he repeated that apology.
"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."
Will Smith's apology came hours after the Academy condemned his behavior and said it was looking at likely sanctions.
"We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law," a statement read.
Celebrities reacted with shock and stunned amazement to Will Smith's actions, with some defending him and others condemning a display of "toxic masculinity."
"He could have killed him. That's pure out of control rage and violence," filmmaker Judd Apatow said in a tweet he later deleted.
"Stand-up comics are very adept at handling hecklers. Violent physical assault... not so much," "Star Wars" icon Mark Hamill chipped in.
The comedian fraternity was quick to rally to Rock's side, complaining that Will Smith's outburst could spark copycat behavior, endangering other stand-up comedians.
Booker prize-winning Bernadine Evaristo said that Will Smith had not just wrecked what should have been his greatest triumph, but had also tainted his legacy.
"Only the fifth black man in nearly 100 years to win an Oscar for male lead, and the first in 16 years, resorts to violence instead of utilizing the power of words to slay Chris Rock. Then he claims God and Love made him do it," she said.
Few of the celebrities came to Will Smith's defense, with singer Nicki Minaj saying that as her husband, Will Smith knew about the pain Pinkett Smith undergoes.
"You just got to witness in real time what happens in a man's soul when he looks over to the woman he loves & sees her holding back tears from a 'little joke' at her expense," she tweeted.
Also Read: Oscars 2022: Will Smith slaps Chris Rock on stage for joke about wife [Watch]
First published: 29 March 2022, 9:27 IST