Will Smith issued an apology through an Instagram post on Monday after his public altercation with comedian Chris Rock Sunday at the 94th Oscar Awards.
“My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally,” said Smith in his post.
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He went on to apologize to Rock and said, ” I was out of line and I was wrong.”
Smith also apologized to the Academy again and all attendees and viewers.
” I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us,” he said since the altercation undermined the awards he and the film received.
Smith concluded his post by saying, “I am a work in progress.”
What happened Sunday shocked the entire Oscar audience, viewers, and the world.
The 94th Academy Awards ceremony and its winners are not what people are talking about but rather the Will Smith and Chris Rock altercation.
Many celebrities attended the Oscars, including Smith, a nominee for the Best Actor category for his role in “King Richard.” He was accompanied by his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who wore a green Jean Paul Gaultier dress and rocking a shaved head.
During the presentation for the documentary feature won by by Questlove for Summer of Soul, Chris Rock took to the stage and made a joke about Pinkett Smith, “Jada, can’t wait for G.I. Jane 2,” of course, poking fun at her shaven head.
Seconds later, Smith stormed on stage and caught Rock off-guard with a slap.
Viewers’ televisions were muted due to censoring, but when the camera panned over to Smith, you could see him yelling, “Keep my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth!”
Oscar attendees were stunned and confused about whether the incident was staged or real and soon found out it was real.
Despite jokes about different celebrities in the audience, some believed that Rock’s joke was in poor taste due to Pinkett Smith being open about her struggle with alopecia. It is why she opts to shave her head.
Later on, during the award show, Smith went on to win the Oscar for Best Actor.
Smith acknowledged the incident during his tearful acceptance speech and apologized to the Academy and the other nominees.
Smith also mentioned that Denzel Washington approached him after the altercation with Rock and told him, “At your highest moment, that’s when the devil comes for you.”
Joking, “I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things,” he said in part of his speech.
He concluded his speech by saying he hopes the Academy invites him back.
Photo Credit: Kevin Mazur/WIREIMAGE
