Will Smith says “there is no part of me that thinks this was the right way to behave at the time” when explaining his decision to strike Chris Rock during the Oscars 2022 ceremony earlier this year.
In a new minute-long Instagram video, the King Richard star answers a series of questions about that night, apologizes again to Rock and also discusses the impact it had on Rock’s family, whether he reacted to Jada Pinkett’s eyeroll as he took the stage, the influence of his action on the other night’s nominees and winners and more.
“I was fed up at that point,” Smith says, explaining why it took Rock so long to apologize. “It’s all vague. I contacted Chris and the message that came back is that he is not ready to talk. And if he is, he will reach out.”
Smith goes on to say he’s “here when you’re ready to talk,” before apologizing to Rock’s mother and brother Tony Rock.
“That was one of the things at the time. I just didn’t realize it,” Smith recalls. “I didn’t think, but how many people were injured at that time. So I want to apologize to Chris’s mom. I want to apologize to Chris’ family. In particular Tony Rock. We had a great relationship. You know, Tony Rock was my husband and this is probably irreparable.”
Smith also answered a question about whether his response was in response to Jada’s eyeroll after Rock’s joke about her baldness, which many noted was a touchy subject due to her alopecia.
“I made my own choice, based on my own experiences from my history with Chris. Jada had nothing to do [with it]Smith said, before acknowledging the “heat” his wife and children have taken on.
Towards the end of the video, Smith also addressed the impact of his actions on his fellow nominees, noting that “I won because you voted for me.”
“It really breaks my heart to have your moment stolen and tarnished,” said Smith, pointing to the reaction of Questlove, who won the Oscars right after the incident for winning best documentary for his project Summer of Soul. Sorry isn’t really enough.”
This is the third apology in one form or another Smith has offered since the Oscars incident in 2022, in which the Oscar winner took to the Dolby Theater stage and punched presenter and comedian Chris Rock after making a joke of GI Jane about the baldness of Jada Pinkett.
Since then, Smith announced that he… resign from the academy and is prohibited from appearing for 10 years.
More to come…