Entertainment
Will Smith apologizes for violent reaction at the Oscar Awards
The "Best Actor" Oscar winner used Instagram to offer his apologies and regrets
March 29, 2022 9:25am
Updated: March 29, 2022 12:15pm
Actor Will Smith apologized on Instagram for his violent attitude against the host of the 94th Oscar Awards after Chris Rock made a lousy joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett, who suffers from alopecia.
During an award presentation, Rock used Jada's shaved look to make a joke. The actress made a gesture of disgust while her husband laughed. After seeing her face, Smith changed his attitude and went up to the stage and slapped Rock.
"Keep my wife's name out of your f&*^!k mouth," Smith said from his seat in the audience. He shouted it twice as Rock shut his mouth and followed the script. The event immediately went viral.
On Monday, Smith took to Instagram to apologize for his violent behavior.
In an emotional post, the actor said he regretted his reaction. He said violence is "poisonous" and "destructive," and there is no excuse for it. He further admitted that the "jokes" at his expense were part of the business, but he considered that they had crossed the line with his wife.
"A joke about Jada's medical condition was too much for me, and I reacted emotionally," he apologized. "I am ashamed, 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," he insisted.
"I deeply regret that my behavior has tainted what has been a wonderful journey for all of us. I am a work in progress," concluded the actor who that same day was awarded a statuette for his role in the "Williams Method" film, about the lives of tennis players Venus and Serena.
The actor's words of apology come hours after the Hollywood Academy opened an investigation into the events to take probable action against Smith. At the same time, Chris Rock declined to press charges against Smith and also accepted that it had been a joke in "bad taste" that had marred his reputation as a good comedian.
