March 28, 2022 — Actor, rapper, and film producer, Will Smith, has apologized to the comedian Chris Rock on Monday evening for slapping him on Sunday night’s Oscar after Chris Rock cracked jokes on Smith’s wife, Jada Koren Pinkett Smith.
Apologizing to Chris Rock on his Instagram Monday evening Will came out strongly saying “I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris” amid sharp criticism from major Hollywood union and many viewers around the world, turning the focus from Oscars to a behavior both Chris and Will agreed is regrettable, unacceptable and inexcusable.
” 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 said.
“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally,” Smith wrote.
Will Smith again apologized to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone who has watched the show around the world.
“I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world.” Will Smith wrote.
Above all, Will Smith apologized to the Williams family for the bad image he has associated with a movies that won him his first Oscar best actor award.
“I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family.” He said.
On his part, Chris Rock has offered his sincere apology to Jada, Will and entire Will family for crossing the line too far.
“I sincerely apologize to my friends Jada Pinkett-Smith, Will Smith, and the rest of the Smith family for the disrespect and disregard I displayed which was unfortunately broadcast for the world to see. ” Chris Rock wrote.
“As a comedian it can be difficult to understand which lines are to be crossed and which ones aren’t. Last night I crossed a line that I shouldn’t have and paid the enormous price of my reputation as a renown comedian.” He explains.
Chris admits that comedy is never about making jokes about people’s health condition or suffering but rather about shedding light on dark world.
“Comedy is never about poking fun at or making lite of people with major ordeals happening in their lives. Comedy is about using real life circumstances to create laughter and bring light to an otherwise dark world. With that said, I hope that, with time, forgiveness can come of this situation and we can all be better, more considerate people in the end.” – Chris Rock said.
Although Chris Rock refused to press charges against Will Smith, their apologies came at a time Oscar academy is threatening to investigate the incident and promise to punish mostly Will Smith for unacceptable behavior saying, it prohibits “physical contact that is uninvited and, in the situation, inappropriate and unwelcome, or coercive sexual attention.” Also not allowed is “intimidation, stalking, abusive or threatening behavior, or bullying.”
The Academy’s disciplinary code include “suspension of membership or expulsion from membership.”
