Will Smith wants to personally apologize for his slap in the face to fellow actor Chris Rock at the Oscars and is looking for a clarifying conversation. Rock isn't ready yet and instead jokes about the Hollywood star.
It was the big topic of the Oscars: It wasn't the pictures of the award-winning filmmakers, but Will Smith's slap in the face to Chris Rock that went around the world. During his recent appearance, the comedian joked about Will Smith, who previously posted an apology video on social media.
While Rock didn't comment on Smith's video at his recent gig in Atlanta, he still poked fun at the 'I Am Legend' star. "Everyone tries to be a fucking victim. If everyone claims to be a victim, no one will listen to the real victims. Even me, who was slapped by Suge Smith. I went to work the next day, I have kids," Rock said, according to People magazine.
Will Smith's designation as Suge Smith refers to former record label boss Suge Knight, who is currently in prison. "Anyone who says words hurt has never been slapped in the face," the comedian added. Suge Knight is the former label boss of Death Row Records, where Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur were signed. The American served shorter sentences for violent assaults in the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2018, Knight did not appeal while on trial for first-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 28 years behind bars.
About four months after he slapped Rock at the Oscars, Smith publicly reached out to the comedian-actor. On July 29, he shared a video on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook apologizing to Rock and explaining that he offered his colleague a chat.
"I've tried reaching out to Chris and what came back is that he's not ready to talk - and when he is, he'll be in touch," Smith says. "So I want to say to you, Chris, I apologize. My behavior was unacceptable and I'll be here as soon as you're ready to talk."
The actor also addresses Chris Rock's mother and family in the video. He had not realized how many people he was hurting at that moment. He also apologized to his own wife and children. Smith said he's spent the past three months trying to understand "the nuance and complexity" of this moment. "I'm not going to try to unpack it all now, but I can tell you all that no part of me thinks it was the right way to behave at the moment."
Will Smith attacked Rock on stage in front of cameras in late March after Rock made a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, losing her hair due to an illness. The actor resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences after the scandal. The Academy had also banned Smith from the awards ceremony and other events for the next ten years.
