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Finally, some responses to the slap in the face heard around the world.
On Friday morning, Will Smith posted a video answering questions about Chris Rock being slapped at the Oscars. The incident tarnished Smith’s Hollywood golden boy image (perhaps forever), led to his decade-long ban from the academy, and sparked serious discussion about what role, if any, violence plays in public outbursts.
“Disappointing people is my core trauma,” Smith said, looking at the camera. “I hate letting people down. It hurts.”
In the nearly six-minute YouTube video, Smith addressed common questions he received after the incident. Did his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, tell him to do it? no Why didn’t he apologize to Rock moments later during his acceptance speech? It was “a blur”.
It was an A-list ovation for Will Smith at the Vanity Fair Oscars after party
During the Oscars, Rock took the stage to present the winner of the documentary category, but started with a joke. Aiming at Jada Pinkett Smith’s closely shaved head, which may have been a result of her battle with alopecia, he said: “Jada, I love you. GI Jane 2, can’t wait to see it.” Smith then took to the stage, punching Rock in the face before returning to his seat, where he repeatedly yelled, “Keep my wife’s name out of your friggin’ mouth. “
Smith apologized on social media shortly after the event, but Rock was largely silent, though he did briefly address the matter during a stand-up set in March: “I had like a whole show that I wrote ahead of the weekend,” he said in the audience, according to a Washington Post reporter. “And I’m still processing what happened. I’ll talk about it at some point.” (A Rock representative could not be immediately reached for comment.)
Jada Pinkett Smith opens up about Oscar’s slap, alopecia, on Red Table Talk
The video was a string of apologies — to Rock, to Pinkett Smith, to his family, to the academy, to Questlove, to his fans, even to Rock’s mother, who said during an interview with an NBC affiliate, “When [Smith] hit Chris, he hit us all. He really slapped me.”
There were several moments when Smith seemed to hold back tears, including when he recalled the look in the eyes of Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, who wrote “Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution couldn’t be televised)” shortly after the incident. It was Thompson’s first Oscar.
Smith only pauses to consider his words: “I’m sorry, that’s not really enough.”
To his fans, who were disappointed with his actions, he said: “I know it was confusing, I know it was shocking. But I promise you, I am deeply dedicated and committed to bringing light, love and joy into the world. And you know, if you hold on, I promise we can be friends again.”
Smith also said he’s determined to work on himself — he’s trying to “be remorseful without being ashamed.” Right? i am human And I made a mistake and I’m trying not to see myself as a piece of shit.”
But according to Smith, Rock still isn’t ready for a personal apology.
“I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that’s come back is that he’s not ready to speak and if he is, he’ll be in touch,” Smith said. “So I’m going to tell you Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.”