Actor Will Smith is addressing slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars in a new video.
In the video titled, “It’s been a minute,” which was posted on YouTube on Friday, Smith spoke about the incident and whether he has spoken to Rock since then.
“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 said.
He then addressed Rock directly saying, “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.”
Smith, who won Best Actor for his role in the movie “King Richard,” said that he did not apologize to Rock during his acceptance speech, in March, because he was “fogged out” by that point and “it’s all fuzzy.”
Smith further apologized to Rock’s mother and his family, including his brother, and said he didn’t realize at the time how many people got hurt in that moment.
Smith said that he also had a great relationship with Rock’s brother and now it is “probably irreparable.”
Check out the video below:
Smith said he spent the last three months “replaying and understanding the nuances and the complexities of what happened in that moment.”
“There is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment,” he said. “There’s no part of me that thinks that’s the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insults.”
Smith said that when it comes to letting people down and disappointing them that is his “central trauma.”
“I hate when I let people down so it hurts me psychologically and emotionally that I didn’t live up to people’s image and impression of me,” he said.
Smith expressed his deep remorse and said he is “deeply devoted and committed to putting light and love and joy into the world.”