Will Smith Apologizes To Chris Rock: "Unacceptable & Inexcusable"

BY Erika Marie 10.7K Views
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Chris Rock, Will Smith
As debates about the altercation take over social media, Smith shares that he is "embarrassed" by his actions at the Academy Awards.

It is the Academy Awards moment that has taken over timelines and news reports worldwide, and now, Will Smith has re-entered the chat. The 94th Oscars ceremony became a hot topic after a G.I. Jane joke made by Chris Rock about Jada Pinkett Smith became the catalyst for Will Smith to slap Rock onstage. This isn't the first time Rock has quipped about Jada at the Academy Awards; back in 2016, a time when Jada called for a boycott of the ceremony with the "Oscars So White" movement, Rock joked that the actress wasn't invited in the first place.

There have been heavy debates and commentary about the incident involving Will and Rock and today (March 28), the King Richard icon has offered an apology to the comedian.

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"Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive," wrote Smith. "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."

"I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness."

Smith also apologized to his peers and the Academy, as well as viewers and Venus and Serena's family. Immediately following the physical confrontation, Smith would go on to win Best Actor for his role in King Richard. Additionally, there seems to be a statement that is allegedly from Chris Rock circulating on social media, but it is unclear if that is actually from him or his team.

Read through Will Smith's statement in full below.




About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.