In an almost six-minute video,\u00a0Will Smith\u00a0broke his silence about the unfortunate \u201cslap heard around the world,\u201d in which\u00a0he hit\u00a0Oscar presenter Chris Rock after he made fun of Smith\u2019s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. This incident happened just before Smith was awarded the Best Actor Oscar honors.<\/p>\n
The apology was expected, and Smith did in the form of answering questions brought up on the internet. There was an expectation that Smith might choose a high-profile TV interview for his apology with Oprah Winfrey or on a late-night talk show. However, he decided to sit and calmly answer questions on social media.<\/p>\n
The first question asked why Smith didn\u2019t apologize to Rock during his acceptance speech. Smith replied, \u201cI was fogged out by that point. It is all fuzzy. I\u2019ve reached out to Chris, and the message that came back is that he\u2019s not ready to talk. When he is, he will reach out. I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable, and I am here whenever you are ready to talk.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith also apologized to Rock\u2019s family and brother Tony, saying, \u201cI want to apologize to Chris\u2019s mother. I saw an interview [she] did, and that was one of the things I just didn\u2019t realize. I wasn\u2019t thinking, but how many people got hurt in that moment. I want to apologize to Chris\u2019 mother, and I want to apologize to Chris\u2019s family, specifically Tony Rock. We had a great relationship. Tony Rock was my man. This is probably irreparable. I spent the last three months replaying and understanding the nuance and complexity of what happened in that moment. I\u2019m not going to try to unpack all of that right now, but I can say to all of you, there is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment. No part of me that thinks that is the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insult.\u201d<\/p>\n