LOS ANGELES — In a nearly six-minute video posted to social media, Will Smith apologized to Chris Rock, as well as Rock’s family, for slapping him at the Oscars.
Will Smith slapped Rock during the March awards ceremony after Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife’s hair loss, as we reported at the time. Smith faced widespread backlash after the assault, and resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which hosts the Oscars.
In the video posted to YouTube Friday, Smith said that he has not spoken to Rock, but is ready and open to speaking whenever Rock is ready. Smith also specifically apologized to Rock’s mother and father, saying he didn’t realize “how many people got hurt in that moment.”
Warning: Video contains explicit language
Rock has joked about the incident at stand-up performances since the attack, but has not offered any public statements, saying only that he will “talk about it at some point,” People reported.
In the video, Smith also apologized to his wife and QuestLove, whose award was being presented when he slapped Rock.
In the video, Smith answers the questions that he most commonly received since the slap. In closing, he answers the question, “What would you say to the people who looked up to you before the slap or people who expressed that you let them down?” by saying: “I know it was confusing, I know it was shocking. But I promise you, I am deeply devoted and committed to putting light and love and joy into the world. And, you know, if you hang on, I promise we’ll be able to be friends again.”
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