Will Smith Breaks Silence on Chris Rock Oscars Slap, Addresses Question About Wife Jada's Involvement

Will Smith is "remorseful" after slapping Chris Rock at the Academy Awards ceremony earlier this year. 

The 53-year-old actor shared a deeply personal video message to social media on Friday in which he apologized to Rock, to Rock's family, as well as his own family and friends. He also revealed that he has reached out to Rock to apologize personally, but that the comedian said he was not ready or willing to hash out their differences quite yet. 

"It's all fuzzy," Smith says of that night. "I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I'm here whenever you're ready to talk."

Smith said his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, did not ask him to slap Rock and apologized to her and his family for "the heat" that he brought on them. "I made a choice on my own from my own experiences, from my own history with Chris. Jada had nothing to do with it," he said.

"I hate when I let people down. So it hurts, it hurts me psychologically and emotionally to know I didn't live up to people's image and impression of me," Smith says in the video confessional. "And the work I'm trying to do is, I am deeply remorseful and I'm trying to be remorseful without being ashamed of myself. I'm human and I made a mistake, and I'm trying not to think of myself as a piece of s**t." 

"I know it was confusing, I know it was shocking, but I promise you I am deeply devoted and committed to putting light and love and joy into the world," he addressed his fans, "and, you know, if you hang on, I promise we'll be able to be friends again."

It all went down when Rock took the stage to present at the 94th annual Academy Awards. While presenting, the Saturday Night Live alum quipped, "Jada, I love ya. G.I. Jane 2, can't wait to see it," referencing her shaved head. Within seconds, Smith walked onstage and slapped Rock with an open hand, on the face.

The Girls Trip actress has been vocal about her struggles with alopecia, an autoimmune disorder which causes bald spots and hair loss. After delivering the slap, Smith returned to his seat and yelled, "Leave my wife's name out your f**king mouth." 

"I spent the last three months replaying and understanding the nuances and the complexities of what happened in that moment," Smith shared on Friday. "I'm not going to try to unpack all of that right now but I can say to all of you there is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment. There's no part of me that thinks that's the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insults."

RELATED CONTENT: 

Chris Rock Makes Will Smith Joke at NYC Stand-Up Show

Kevin Hart Says Will Smith Is 'In a Better Place' After Oscars Slap

Wanda Sykes Recalls 'Shock' at Oscars After 'Bizarre' Will Smith Slap

Martin Lawrence on 'Bad Boys 4' Plans After Will Smith's Oscars Slap

Will Smith's 'King Richard' Co-Stars Share Update on Actor

Tyler Perry Talks Being Friends With Both Will Smith and Chris Rock