Culture

Will Smith apologises to Chris Rock: 'I was out of line and I was wrong'

29 Mar 2022

Will Smith poses for a photograph.

Gulf Today Report

Hollywood star Will Smith has issued an apology after slapping comedian Chris Rock on the Oscars stage.

"Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behaviour 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.

"I would like to publicly apologise to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. 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."

The post continued, "I would also like to apologise to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologise to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behaviour has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress."

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced it is opening an investigation into Will Smith’s conduct during last night’s (27 March) Oscars ceremony.

Smith hit presenter Chris Rock on stage during the event, after the comedian made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

“Jada, I love you. “GI Jane 2,” can’t wait to see you,” said Rock, in an apparent reference to Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. Pinkett Smith stated last year that she shaved her head after struggling with alopecia.

Smith, who won the Best Actor prize later in the ceremony, walked on stage and struck Rock, before shouting at him: “Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth.”

Later in the night, he was awarded the Best Actor Oscar for his role in “King Richard,” and apologised to the Academy during a tearful acceptance speech.

Billie Eilish and Finneas win Oscar for best song

Oscars set for return to normal except all the changes

In a statement issued after the incident, the Academy “condemned” Smith’s actions, and said an investigation was being launched into prospective sanctions.

“The Academy condemns the actions of Mr Smith at last night’s show,” said the organisation.

“We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law.”

“The Hollywood Reporter” states that the Academy convened an emergency meeting as a result of the unprecedented incident.

What form the “consequences” shall take remain to be seen, with some viewers suggesting that Smith’s Oscar could be revoked.

However, such an extreme sanction is understood to be very unlikely, with the suspension of Smith’s Academy membership another possibility.

Whoopi Goldberg, who currently serves as a governor for the Actors Branch of the Academy, shut down speculation that Smith’s Best Actor win could be revoked while appearing on “The View” earlier today.

“We’re not going to take that Oscar from him,” said Goldberg. “There will be consequences I’m sure, but I don’t think that’s what they’re going to do, particularly because Chris said ‘Listen, I’m not pressing any charges.’”