Will Smith speaking out on camera for the first time since slapping comedian Chris Rock four months ago at the 2022 Academy Awards.
In a new video posted on social media, the “King Richard” star apologized to Rock again, telling him, “I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.”
“I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that he’s not ready to talk, and when he is he will reach out,” Will said. “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 then went on to apologize to Rock’s family.
“I saw an interview that his mother did. That’s one of the things about that moment I didn’t realize, I wasn’t thinking, but how many people got hurt in that moment.”
“So I want to apologize to Chris’ mother; I want to apologize to Chris’ family, specifically Tony Rock. This is probably irreparable,” Will said.
“I spent the last three months replaying and understanding the complexities and nuances of what happened in that moment.”
Back in March, Smith took the stage during the Oscars telecast to slap Rock after he made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. Pinkett Smith has been vocal about living with alopecia. Days later, Smith said in a statement that the joke was “too much for me to bear” and he “reacted emotionally.”
Smith later resigned from the Academy and was banned from attending their ceremonies for the next 10 years.
