Will Smith Explains Response to Chris Rock Post-Oscars Slap, Offers Second Apology to Rock and His Family

Will Smith says “there is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment” when explaining his decision to slap Chris Rock during the Oscars 2022 ceremony earlier this year.

In a new minutes-long Instagram video, the King Richard star answers a series of questions about that night, offering up yet another apology to Rock while also discussing the impact it had on Rock’s family, whether he was responding to Jada Pinkett’s eyeroll when he took the stage, the affects his action’s on the night’s other nominees and winners and more.

“I was fogged out by that point,” Smith says, explaining why it took so long to offer Rock an apology. “It’s all fuzzy. I’ve reached out to Chris and the mesh the message that came back is that he’s not ready to talk. And when he is, he will reach out.”

Smith goes on to say he’s “here whenever you’re ready to talk,” before offering up an apology to Rock’s mother and brother Tony Rock.

“That was one of the things about that moment. I just didn’t realize,” Smith reflects. “I wasn’t thinking but how many people got hurt in that moment. So I want to apologize to Chris’s mother. I want to apologize to Chris’s family. Specifically, Tony Rock. We had a great relationship. You know, Tony rock was my man and this is probably irreparable.”

Smith also answered the question about whether his reaction was in response to Jada’s eyeroll following Rock’s joke about her baldness, which many noted that night and still have may have been a sensitive topic due to her alopechia.

“I made a choice on my own, from my own experiences from my history with Chris. Jada had nothing to do [with it],” Smith said, before acknowledging the “heat” his wife and kids have taken.

Towards the end of the video, Smith also address how his actions impacted his fellow nominees, noting that “I won because you voted for me.”

“It really breaks my heart to have stolen and tarnished your moment,” Smith said, pointing to Questlove’s reaction, who took the Oscars stage right after the incident for winning best documentary for his project Summer of Soul.” “Sorry isn’t really sufficient.”
 

This is the third apology in some form that Smith has offered up since the Oscars 2022 incident, in which the Oscar winner took to the Dolby Theatre stage and slapped presenter and comedian Chris Rock after he made a G.I. Jane joke about Jada Pinkett’s baldness.

Since then, Smith announced he was resigning from the Academy and has been banned from appearing for 10 years.