Will Smith has apologized for punching Academy Award presenter Chris Rock during the ceremony on Sunday.
Smith's behavior was described as "unacceptable and unforgivable" in a Monday afternoon Instagram post.
"It's part of the job to make jokes at my expense," he added, "but a joke about Jada's medical condition was too much for me to handle and I reacted emotionally." "Chris, I'd like to express my regret in public. I was wrong and out of line. I'm humiliated, and my behavior did not reflect the guy I aspire to be. In a world filled with love and generosity, violence has no place."
"Violence in any form is corrosive and harmful," Smith wrote in his blog post.
He also apologized to "the Academy, the producers of the ceremony, all the guests, and everyone watching across the world," as well as the Williams sisters' family and all involved with the film for which he earned his best actor award on Sunday."I profoundly sorry that my actions have marred what has otherwise been a beautiful journey for all of us," he wrote. "I'm still working on myself."Following a joke about Smith's wife, Will Smith slapped Chris Rock during the Oscars ceremony.
When Smith stormed the stage and punched comedian Chris Rock in the face on Sunday, he created a disturbance that disrupted the tone of an otherwise upbeat Oscars show.The joke about Pinkett Smith's shorn head prompted the moment.
"Jada, I love you, 'G.I. Jane 2,' can't wait to see it," Rock said as he presented the award for best documentary.Pinkett Smith, who has been vocal about her fight with alopecia, an autoimmune illness that causes hair loss, seemed unimpressed as the camera moved to her.
"That was a nice one," Rock replied, seemingly in response to the joke's poor reception.
Rock then chuckled and said, "Oh uh," as Smith approached him on stage and slapped him across the face.
Rock was reportedly hit, according to CNN reporter Stephanie Elam, who was in the audience. "Keep my wife's name out of your f***ing mouth!" Smith yelled twice during the confrontation, according to Elam.
"Oh, wow," Rock replied.The verbal portion of the conversation between Rock and Smith was muffled for home viewers.
"That was the greatest night in the history of television," Rock declared as the audience fell silent.Smith would enter the stage for the second time, this time as the winner, almost 40 minutes later.
A weeping Smith recognized the earlier incident and apologized to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the institution behind the Oscars, as well as fellow candidates, as he accepted his best actor prize for his work in "King Richard." It's worth noting that Rock was not named.
According to Smith: "To accomplish what we do, I understand that you must be able to accept abuse and have people gossip about you. You need people who insult you in this business. You have to put on a brave face and act as though everything is well."
Prior to his win, Smith said that fellow candidate Denzel Washington had given him some advice: "Be careful at your highest moment, that's when the devil comes for you."
Smith concluded by expressing his desire to return to the Academy.
Chris Rock's agents have been contacted by CNN for a response.Following the show, the Academy Awards issued a brief statement regarding the on-stage incident, which read: "Violence of any kind is not tolerated by the Academy. We are pleased to honor our 94th Academy Award recipients tonight, who have earned this honor from their peers and moviegoers all across the world."
Rock also decided not to seek charges against Smith for the onstage altercation, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
However, when the after-parties raged on and the morning arrived, the reaction to the moment continued to simmer.
By Monday afternoon, the Academy had published a stronger statement, criticizing Smith's behavior and disclosing that a "formal review" into the matter had been launched.
"In compliance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct, and California law," it said, "we will investigate further action and repercussions."
According to a person familiar with the situation, the Academy "seriously contemplated" pulling Smith from the Oscars ceremony following the incident."There were rapid conversations," the source added, "but the Academy decision makers were seated in various areas throughout the Dolby Theater and were unable to mobilize to make a judgment before he won best actor."
According to two persons familiar with the discussion, at least a dozen Academy members gathered online on Monday morning to consider how to respond to Smith's slapping of Rock.
"Heated" and "divided" were two words used to describe the gathering. According to the report, there was no agreement on next steps.to the originators
The dozen members, including actors and directors, met on their own initiative and are considered as powerful and recognizable members of the Academy. The group has no disciplinary authority, but they are high enough in the public eye that the Academy's Board of Governors could be swayed in their response.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has over 9,000 voting members, including Hollywood actors and producers.
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