Smith also apologized to Rock's family, including his mother, Rosalie, who was horrified to see her son hurt.
Will Smith has been apologizing to Chris Rock for his actions, ever since the infamous Oscars incident earlier this year.
The actor recently apologized again through a video posted on Friday. This is Smith's first on-camera apology since slapping the comedian on stage at the 2022 Academy Awards.
Four months after Smith, 53, took the stage at the Oscars and smacked Rock, 57, across the face, he shared a video on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook on Friday, in which he apologizes to Rock again and tells him, "I'm here whenever you're ready to talk. I've 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." Smith continued, "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."
The King Richard actor went on to say that he also wants to apologize to Rock's mom. "I saw an interview that his mother did. That's one of the things about that moment I didn't realize, 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 [Chris's younger brother]. We had a great relationship. Tony Rock was my man. This is probably irreparable," the actor said.
Will Smith Posts Emotional Apology Video for Oscars Slap, Says Chris Rock Is ‘Not Ready’ to Speak With Him https://t.co/ivlvw1R1RS
— Variety (@Variety) July 29, 2022
"I spent the last three months replaying and understanding the complexities and nuances of what happened. I'm not gonna try to unpack all of that right now but I can say to you, there was no part of me that thought that was the right way to behave in that moment," he added.
Earlier this week, Rock reportedly addressed the slap during his standup show in New Jersey. "Anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face," Rock reportedly joked, adding that he wasn't a victim and shook it off. "I don't go to the hospital for a papercut."
Will Smith is offering up yet another apology to Chris Rock while also discussing the impact it had on Rock’s family, whether he was responding to Jada Pinkett’s eye roll, the effects of his actions on the night’s other nominees and winners and more: https://t.co/jrh8KV8NHr pic.twitter.com/zvVEuVWK29
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) July 29, 2022
At the March 27 ceremony, before his win for Best Actor, Smith walked onstage and hit Rock on live television after taking issue with a joke about wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head. The actor later explained that his actions were "too much for me to bear" and that he "reacted emotionally."
Actor Will Smith posted a YouTube video Friday apologizing for striking presenter Chris Rock during the live TV broadcast of this year's Academy Awards ceremony.
— NPR (@NPR) July 29, 2022
He said his behavior, striking Rock in response to a joke, was unacceptable. https://t.co/8fZ29xipS2
Smith later resigned from the Academy and was banned from attending their ceremonies for the next 10 years. He took to Instagram to post a public apology, a day after the incident at the Oscars. "I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong," the statement read. "I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness."
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