Will Smith releases emotional apology video for Oscars slap, reveals Chris Rock is ‘not ready’ to talk to him

The official Will Smith career rehabilitation has begun in the wake of the Chris Rock Oscar slap, and months after the event, the actor has released an emotional apology video for the incident and reveals that Chris Rock is “not ready” to talk to him.

Smith took to YouTube to address many things about what happened on Oscar night. In the video, the actor reveals why he didn’t apologize to Rock in his acceptance speech for the Best Actor prize for King Richard shortly after he charged the stage and slapped the comedian for poking fun at his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. He admits that “it’s all fuzzy,” and says, “I’ve reached out to Chris, and the message that came back is he’s not ready to talk, and when he is, he will reach out.” He again reiterates that he’s very sorry for his actions and calls his behavior “unacceptable.” You can check out the YouTube video below!

At one point in the video, Smith says, “There’s no part of me that thinks that’s the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insults. No. It’s like, you know, I made a choice on my own, from my own experiences, from my history with Chris. Jada had nothing to do with it. I’m sorry, babe. I wanna say sorry to my kids and my family for the heat that I brought on all of us.” With this statement, it seems like he takes much of the reasoning off of taking up for his wife and puts it more on his personal history with Chris Rock. It’s a narrative that hasn’t been taken until now because, in the wake of the slap, it seemed like this was all done because he was defending his wife’s honor, albeit foolishly.

No matter your thoughts on the apology video, I feel like this is how he should’ve come out ahead of it at the start. A written statement felt too disingenuous, too forced, and a bit too Hollywood. At least putting his face on camera and speaking to the masses make it feel like a more sincere apology. He probably could’ve helped a lot of this mess by doing it this way sooner. That being said, it’s getting done now, and I’m sure it will do a lot to fix his reputation in the court of public opinion.

What are YOUR thoughts on Will Smith’s apology video for that infamous Oscars slap?