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Author: Editors Desk Source: USA Today

March 28, 2022 at 21:34

Will Smith accepts the award for best actor in a leading role for his performance in "King Richard. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY

Will Smith issued a public apology to Chris Rock, whom he slapped onstage at the Oscars after the comedian joked about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's bald head.

"Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive," Smith wrote on Instagram Monday, the day after the ceremony where he won best actor for playing Venus and Serena Williams' father in "King Richard." "My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable."

Smith added: "Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally."

As Rock presented the award for best documentary feature, the comedian made a joke about Pinkett Smith. Rock said he couldn't wait to see her star in "G.I. Jane 2," referencing her shaved head.

Last year, Pinkett Smith said she went bald after daughter, Willow, encouraged her to do so. She also revealed she has had alopecia, which results in severe hair loss, since 2018.

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In his Instagram post, Smith added he "would like to publicly apologize" to Rock, adding that the slap was "out of line" and "wrong."

"I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be," he continued. "There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness."

The actor also apologized to the Academy, the Oscars producers, everyone in attendance and everyone watching from home.

"I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family," he added. "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."

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Will Smith accepts the award for best actor in a leading role in for his performance in 'King Richard.'

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At first, Smith seemingly laughed at the joke, but then got up and hit Rock in the face as he stood on the stage. Rock appeared to be in shock, and Smith sat back down and shouted, "keep my wife's name out of your (expletive) mouth," twice.

The feed from ABC appeared to cut off for many viewers during the incident, but international broadcasts picked up the entire moment, with Rock saying, "Will Smith just smacked the (expletive) out of me."

During his acceptance speech for best actor later in the night, Smith apologized to the Academy, but not to Rock.

"I'm being called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people," he said through tears. "I know to do what we do, you’ve got to be able to take abuse, you’ve got to be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business you’ve got to be able to have people disrespecting you. And you gotta smile and you've got to pretend like that’s okay."

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He continued: "Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things."

Since the broadcast, the Academy has launched an investigation into the incident, and social media has been abuzz with reactions to the controversial moment. Rock declined to file a police report Sunday, Los Angeles police appeared to confirm.

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On Sunday, the Academy released a statement saying the organization does not condone violence. And the real Richard Williams, whom Smith won an Oscar for portraying, told NBC News via his son Chavoita LeSane that the Williams family does not "condone anyone hitting anyone else unless it’s in self-defense."

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Contributing: Jordan Mendoza, Patrick Ryan and Hannah Yasharoff