In a video posted to YouTube, Will Smith finally broke his silence about his actions on Oscars Night 2022, when he stuck presenter Chris Rock after he made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith won Best Actor for “King Richard” at the ceremony later that night. The video, which runs 5 minutes and 44 seconds, is Smith’s first public statement about his behavior since an Instagram post the day after the Oscars, on March 28.
READ MORE: Chris Rock On Will Smith’s Oscar Slap: “I’m Not A Victim” But “That Sh*t Hurt”
Hollywood and fans expected an apology from Smith at some point. Now, just over four months after the incident, Smith decided to release a video in a closed that with him answering questions taken from the internet. This choice comes as a bit of surprise, as many expected Smith would eventually choose to do an apology in a high-profile TV interview with a late-night host, Oprah Winfrey, or someone else. Instead, Smith’s choice to answer questions allegedly taken from the internet on a closed set speaks to a need on his part to control the nature of his apology, forgoing a more unrehearsed explanation for his behavior.
Smith answered a series of questions during the video, the first one about why he didn’t apologize to Rock in his acceptance speech. Smith’s response is as follows:
“I was fogged out by that point. It is all fuzzy. I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that, he’s not ready to talk. When he is, he will reach out. I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I am here whenever you are ready to talk. I want to apologize to Chris’s mother. I saw an interview [she] did, and that was one of the things I just didn’t realize. I wasn’t thinking, but how many people got hurt in that moment. I want to apologize to Chris’ mother, I want to apologize to Chris’s family, specifically Tony Rock. We had a great relationship. Tony Rock was my man. This is probably irreparable. I spent the last three months replaying an understanding the nuances and complexities of what happened in that moment. 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. No part of me that thinks that is the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insult.”
In the next question, Smith spoke about whether his wife ask him to respond to Rock’s remarks, prompting his choice to run up onstage and slap Smith in the middle of his presentation. “No,” said Smith emphatically. “I made a choice on my own, from my own experiences, and from my history with Chris. Jada had nothing to do with it. I’m sorry, babe, and I want to say sorry to my kids and my family for the heat that I brought on all of us.”
Smith also apologized to other nominees whose Oscar wins went overlooked due to his actions. That included Questlove winning Best Documentary for “Summer Of Soul,” Jessica Chastain‘s Best Actress win for “The Eyes Of Tammy Faye,” and “CODA” winning Best Picture. Smith said, “To all my fellow nominees: this is a community. I won because you voted for me and it really breaks my heart to have stolen and tarnished your moment. I can still see Questlove’s eyes – it happened on Questlove’s award – and “I’ sorry” isn’t really sufficient.”
In a final question about what Smith had to say to people who used to look up to him and are disappointed in his behavior, Smith said:
Two things. One, disappointing people is my central trauma. I hate when I let people down, so it hurts me psychologically and emotionally that I didn’t live up to peoples’ image and impression of me. The work I am 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 sh*t so I would say to those people, 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. If you hang on, I promise we will be able to be friends again.
What kind of response will Smith receive for this video? The Academy banned Rock for the next ten years from attending Oscar ceremonies for his actions. That’s a fitting punishment for a terrible thoughtless action in a hyper-public arena. However, despite his behavior, Smith remains one of Hollywood’s biggest A-List stars. His screen presence has brought moviegoers into theaters for decades now. Has that all vanished in an instant thanks to Smith’s behavior back in March?
Moviegoers may discover if Smith’s star power is over sooner than they think. According to Deadline, Apple find test screenings for Smith’s performance in Antoine Fuqua‘s “Emancipation” so positive that they may release the film in December, despite reports that they would shelve it entirely due to Smith’s behavior. Based on a true story, “Emancipation” follows Smith’ Peter, a runaway slave who escapes Louisiana to become a soldier in the Union Army. Photos taken of near-fatal whipping wounds on Peter’s back during a medical examination became an overnight sensation in newspapers around the world, documenting the cruelty of the antebellum South.
Is Smith’s performance in “Emancipation” so strong that Apple will release the film before the year ends? Their decision may hinge on how Hollywood and the public respond to Smith’s new video.