Will Smith may have issued multiple apologies to Chris Rock after slapping him at the 2022 Oscars — but that doesn’t mean the comedian wants to have a heart-to-heart with the King Richard star anytime soon.
Everything Chris Rock Has Said About the
Will Smith Oscars Slap Drama
“Chris has no immediate plans to have a
one-on-one with Will,” a source exclusively tells Us Weekly about the Saturday
Night Live alum’s reaction to Smith’s latest apology video. “He’s moving
forward.”
Though the Grown Ups star, 57, hasn’t
directly addressed the situation with Smith, 53, he has referenced the slap
during many of his stand-up comedy routines following the highly-publicized
incident.
“Anyone who says words hurt has never been
punched in the face,” Rock joked during his set at the PNC Bank Arts Center in
Holmdel, New Jersey, on Sunday, July 24, an eyewitness exclusively told Us. The
audience member also revealed that the Madagascar voice actor referred to the
Bad Boys star as “Suge Smith,” an apparent reference to Death Row Records CEO
Suge Knight, who is in prison for manslaughter.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum shared
his second apology to Rock via YouTube on Friday, July 29. Smith’s lengthy,
emotional video once again touched on the deep remorse he feels for his actions
at the 64th Annual Academy Awards in March.
“I’ve spent the last three months
replaying and understanding the nuances and the complexities of what happened
in that moment,” the Oscar winner said. “I’m not gonna 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.”
In the footage, Smith referred to his
reaction to the Longest Yard star cracking a joke at Jada Pinkett Smith’s
expense at the March 29 awards show. After Rock compared Pinkett Smith’s shaved
head to G.I. Jane — the Red Table Talk host, 50, has been candid about her
battle with alopecia — the 7 Pounds actor walked onstage and slapped the Fargo
actor across the face.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum shared
his second apology to Rock via YouTube on Friday, July 29. Smith’s lengthy,
emotional video once again touched on the deep remorse he feels for his actions
at the 64th Annual Academy Awards in March.
“I’ve spent the last three months
replaying and understanding the nuances and the complexities of what happened
in that moment,” the Oscar winner said. “I’m not gonna 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.”
In the footage, Smith referred to his
reaction to the Longest Yard star cracking a joke at Jada Pinkett Smith’s
expense at the March 29 awards show. After Rock compared Pinkett Smith’s shaved
head to G.I. Jane — the Red Table Talk host, 50, has been candid about her
battle with alopecia — the 7 Pounds actor walked onstage and slapped the Fargo
actor across the face.
In the July clip, the Pursuit of Happyness
star also noted that while he has tried to get in contact with the stand-up
star, “the message that came back is that he’s not ready to talk. And when he
is, he will reach out.”
Smith continued, “So I will say to you, Chris, I apologize
to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I’m here whenever you’re ready to
talk. … I’m trying not to think of myself as a piece of s—t.”
However, a second source told Us on
Monday, August 1, that the “Miami” rapper’s latest apology was also partially
orchestrated by Pinkett Smith.
“Jada has also been pushing Will to
apologize because it has become this really dark cloud over her Red Table Talk
series,” the insider revealed, noting that Smith “never wanted to” publicly apologize
but the public was waiting for “any mention of that moment.”
Will Smith’s Most Controversial Moments:
The Slap, a ‘Fresh Prince’ Feud, More
The Men in Black actor — who has faced
numerous consequences for his actions, including being banned from all Academy
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences events for 10 years — originally issued his
first apology to Rock one day after the Oscars.
“Violence in all of its forms is poisonous
and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable
and inexcusable,” Smith shared in a lengthy message via Instagram on March 30.
“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was
wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to
be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”