WILL Smith has shared a shocking apology to Chris Rock after he slapped the comedian on stage during the Oscar ceremony and is begging the actor to “talk it out.”
The actor posted a formal video apology on Facebook answering why he didn’t apologize to Chris in his acceptance speech.
Will told fans he didn’t act because his wife Jada Pinkett Smith rolled her eyes but rather that he personally found the joke insulting.
The actor said he’s “suffered trauma” as he “didn’t live up to people’s image and impression of me.”
Will went on to say: “I am human and I made a mistake and I’m trying not to think of myself as a piece of s**t.”
He said he’s reached out to Chris, but that he hasn’t heard back from him.
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Chris wasn’t ready to talk.
In the video, Will also formally apologized to Chris’ brother Tony Rock, Chris’ mother, Questlove.
Allegedly, Will and Chris haven’t spoken since the Oscars.
SWING RICHARD
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At the ceremony in March, Chris was presenting the win for Best Documentary when he went off-script.
“Jada, I love you, G. I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it,” Chris tried to joke.
Demi Moore famously shaved her head for her role in the 1997 movie.
Jada, on the contrary, has been struggling with hair loss for years, and last year decided to shave it all off.
Will took offence at the joke and stormed the stage before hitting the presenter with a right hook.
The audio and video feed in the US was cut for several seconds during the shocking incident.
However, international broadcasters aired the entire violent encounter between the two stars.
After the confrontation, a stunned Chris said: “Will Smith just smacked the s**t out of me.”
When the video restarted, Will looked furious, as he yelled at the comedian: “Leave my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth.”
NO JOKE
Chris’s joke was apparently an ad-lib.
“Someone who works for the Oscars told me that Chris Rock was not interrupted by Will Smith at rehearsals yesterday. It was not supposed to happen,” a source revealed. “It was real.”
It came as…
- Will Smith was slammed for NOT apologizing to Chris Rock in his Oscars acceptance speech minutes after slapping him
- Fans were ‘in tears’ at deaf Coda actor Troy Kotsur’s emotional acceptance speech for his historic win
- Lily James wowed in pink lace as she joined Dame Judi Dench, Olivia Colman and other stars on the red carpet
- Kourtney Kardashian and fiancé Travis Barker made out on their Oscars red carpet debut
- Beyonce’s fans were stunned as Blue Ivy, 10, made a surprise cameo during her mom’s performance
- Kenneth Branagh was the night’s biggest British winner with an Oscar for best original screenplay but Olivia Colman missed out
During the commercial break, Will reportedly was pulled aside and comforted by Sean Combs and Tyler Perry.
Will seemed to wipe tears from his eyes, as his fellow actors motioned for him to brush it off.
WILL WINS
Minutes later, Will was back on-stage, in tears, accepting the Best Actor award for King Richard.
He opened his acceptance speech with a tense voice, explaining: “Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family.”
The actor fought back tears throughout his speech, which, while dedicated to Venus and Serena’s father, suddenly seemed to take on a different meaning.
“I want to apologize to the academy, he said toward the end of his speech. “I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees.”
“Art imitates life, I look like the crazy father, just like what they said about Richard Williams.
“But love will make you do crazy things.”
SLAP HAPPY
Will’s career was in tatters after the incident yet four months later it was revealed the actor was reeling in the second biggest paycheck in Hollywood.
Industry bible Variety magazine revealed that Will is being paid £30million for his role in the upcoming thriller Emancipation for streaming service Apple TV+.
In the latest list of the year’s biggest movie star salaries, he is just behind Tom Cruise, who struck a remarkable deal while making Top Gun: Maverick, which will bank him more than £100million.
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The A-lister agreed to a lower fee in order to take home a significant chunk of profits from the sequel, which has paid off after it stormed the box office and made more than £1billion.
Margot Robbie has secured the biggest deal for a woman, although it is far less than many of the male actors on the list.
Chris hasn’t spoken to Will since the Oscars and allegedly isn’t ready to talk[/caption]
Will shared he didn’t act to slap Chris because Jada rolled her eyes but because he found the joke insulting[/caption]
Will issued apologies to Chris’ brother and mother, Questlove for stealing the winning moment and many others[/caption]
