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American actor and film producer Will Smith has apologized to Chris Rock for smacking him during the Oscars ceremony in Hollywood on Monday morning.
Smith admitted that his behavior was ‘poisonous and destructive’ and he reacted emotionally. He added that the joke about his wife Jada Pinkett’s hair was a bit too much to bear.
Rock, in a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, had referenced the 1997 film G.I. Jane in which actress Demi Moore shaved her head. It was unclear whether Rock was aware that Smith’s wife has a disease that causes hair loss.
“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. 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,” he wrote in part.
Smith said violence has no place in the ‘world of love’ and he is embarrassed because what happened does not portray who he is. “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.”
He also apologized to the Academy and all those who were following the ceremony around the worlds saying he deeply regrets that his behavior overshadowed a beautiful journey for his colleagues and family. “I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. 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. I am a work in progress.”
Earlier, the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences, the body that awards the Oscars, condemned Smith’s actions, saying it was reviewing the incident.
“We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct, and California law,” the academy added.
