ACTOR Will Smith apologised publicly to comedian Chris Rock a day after slapped him on stage at the 94th Academy Awards.
When Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head and suggested she star in GI Jane 2, Smith went onto the stage and slapped Rock across the face.
Pinkett-Smith has spoken publicly about her hair loss due to alopecia, a disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks hair follicles, causing hair loss.
“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive,“ Smith wrote in text post on his Instagram. He called his behaviour “unacceptable and inexcusable.”
“Jokes at my expense are 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 apologise to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong,” wrote Smith.
Smith also added apologies to the Academy, producers of the show, all the attendees and the audience around the world, the Williams family and the King Richard Family.
“I deeply regret that my behaviour has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us,” he added. “I am a work in progress.”
Several celebrities have reacted to the on-stage incident.
“Just saw the Will Smith slap. Anyone have a late night show I can borrow just for tomorrow?” former late-night host Conan O’Brien tweeted.
Director Judd Apatow wrote in a since-deleted tweet that Smith could have killed Rock and called the incident “pure out of control rage and violence.”
Actress Sophia Bush took a more balanced view considering both parties by tweeting, “Violence isn’t ok. Assault is never the answer,“ speaking of Smith’s actions. She also addressed Rock’s joke, which led to Smith’s anger.
Mia Farrow, an actress, called the incident “Oscar’s worst moment,“ before adding that Chris Rock’s specialty is making people laugh and he’s always been a little edgy. “And I love GI Jane,” she said.
According to an academy representative, they have begun a formal review of the incident and will consider further action in line with the Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law.
Rock has not commented publicly yet about the incident but it was reported that the comedian had decided not to press charges and claimed the actors had made up off-camera.
