Will Smith has apologised to Chris Rock after slapping him at the Oscars when the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith.
Smith stormed the stage after Rock compared Pinkett Smith - who has been open about her battle with hair loss due to alopecia - to GI Jane.
The actor slapped Rock across the face before returning to his seat and shouting: “Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth.”
Smith was later awarded the coveted best actor award for his role in King Richard.
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During his acceptance speech he apologised to ‘the Academy’ and his ‘fellow nominees’ but didn’t mention Rock.
He said: "I want to apologise to the Academy. I want to apologise to all my fellow nominees.
"Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said. I look like the crazy father just like they said about Richard Williams but love will make you do crazy things."
Now, he's released a statement in which he has apologised directly to Rock, saying he was ‘out of line’ and that his behaviour was ‘unacceptable’.
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In the lengthy post he shared to Instagram, he wrote: “Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behaviour at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.
“I would like to publicly apologise 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.
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“I would also like to apologise to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world.
"I would like to apologise to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behaviour has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress.”
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Topics: Celebrity, Will Smith, Oscars
Claire Reid