Will Smith Publicly Apologizes To Chris Rock For Oscars Slap

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Following the controversial moment at the 94th Academy Awards, Will Smith has publicly apologized to Chris Rock for slapping him in the face. The Oscars always come with its best, worst, and strange moments year after year. However, the 2022 event came with more drama than probably any viewer was prepared for. One of the presenters was Chris Rock, who was there to present the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. During the segment, the actor took a massive dig at actress Jada Pinkett Smith, making a joke about her being bald, which is the result of her alopecia diagnosis.

While various audience members laughed, it didn't take long before the laughter died as Smith walked up on stage and slapped Rock in the face. As viewers at home and people in the building were all left stunned, it became quickly evident that this was by no means staged as Smith loudly told Rock to "keep my wife's name out of your f***ing mouth!" Despite the ABC broadcast censuring the profanity, international streams quickly captured the heated moment and went viral on social media. While Smith formally apologized to the Academy and his fellow nominees during his acceptance speech for winning his first Oscar, Rock wasn't one of the people he expressed regret to.

RELATED: Will Smith's Chris Rock Slap Overshadowed Oscars 2022's Biggest Triumphs

Almost 24 hours since the heated moment at the Oscars, Smith has come out with a formal, public apology to Rock. Smith deeply expressed how he regretted his behavior and that while he didn't tolerate Rock's jokes about his wife's medical condition, he acknowledged that violence wasn't the proper response. Check out Smith's full statement, posted on his Instagram, below:

«Violence in all of its forms is poisonous