Will Smith Groveling Apology To Chris Rock For His Notorious Slap At The Oscars
Will Smith Groveling Apology To Chris Rock For His Notorious Slap At The Oscars
Updated on July 30, 2022 12:46 PM by Ava Sara
The King Richard actor has a message for those who look up to him: Stick with me. Will Smith, 53, addressed his fans on camera for the first time since slapping Chris Rock, 57, in the face at the 94th Academy Awards in a video posted Friday to YouTube and social media.
In the nearly 6-minute video, Will apologized to Rock and answered many questions posed by fans, including why he didn't apologize to Rock during his Best Actor acceptance speech ("That point fogged out me").
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The final question in the video read, "What would you say to the people who looked up to you before the slap or people who expressed that you let them down?"
The actor replied, "Disappointing people is my central trauma. I hate when I let people down," adding, "It hurts me psychologically and emotionally to know I didn't live up to people's image and impression of me."
Will continued, "I am deeply remorseful, and I'm trying to be remorseful without being ashamed of myself. Right? I'm human. And I made a mistake and I'm trying not to think of myself as a piece of s---."
As for what he would say to those who look up to him, "I know it was confusing, I know it was shocking, but I promise you I am deeply devoted and committed to putting light and love and joy into the world."
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Will concluded, "And if you hang on, I promise we'll be able to be friends again." Near the beginning of the video, Will revealed he has "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 added, "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."
At the March 27 ceremony, before his win for Best Actor, Will walked onstage and hit Rock on live television after taking issue with a joke about wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head (alopecia.)
In a statement, Will explained, as he apologized to Rock, that the punchline was "too much for me to bear," and he "reacted emotionally."
In his Friday clip, Will also apologized to Rock's family, including the comedian's mom and younger brother Tony Rock, his family, fellow Oscar nominees, and Questlove, whose award Rock was presenting at the time of the slap.
He addressed his fellow nominees, "I won because you voted for me, and it really breaks my heart to have stolen and tarnished your moment," adding, "I can still see Questlove's eyes ... 'I'm sorry really isn't sufficient."