It's been four months since actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars after he made a joke about Smith's wife actor Jada Pinkett Smith's hair loss during the awards' live telecast.
But unlike most big moments at the yearly awards bash which fade from the top of everyone's minds, this one has lived on in infamy ever since--surely in part because there's been no closure for the shocking moment.
While Rock has been fairly open about the astonishing moment, even working it into his act, Smith and Pinkett Smith have played things pretty close to the vest. Until now, that is.
Late last week, Smith posted a nearly six-minute video to YouTube, finally acknowledging the elephant in the room head-on and issuing a remorseful apology to Rock for the "slap heard round the world." See it below.
Part of what made the incident so shocking was how less than an hour later, Smith went on to win the Best Actor award for King Richard and give an effusive speech that not only contained no apology but seemed to obliquely defend his actions.
Smith addressed this in his video, explaining that he didn't apologize in that moment.
“I was fogged out by that point. It is all fuzzy."
He went on to explain that he has attempted to reach out to Rock directly, but that Rock is "not ready" to address it. Smith said:
"I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that he’s not ready to talk and when he is, he will reach out."
Smith then issued his apology not only to Rock but to his mother and brother who have both given interviews about how the incident impacted them.
"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 want to apologize to Chris’s mother... 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’s family, specifically Tony Rock. We had a great relationship. Tony Rock was my man. This is probably irreparable."
And in a reversal from his Oscars speech, Smith went on to call the incident "unacceptable."
"I spent the last three months replaying and understanding the nuance and complexity of what happened in that moment... there is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment."
On social media, many appreciated Smith speaking out.
\u201cHaving grown up a fan watching Will Smith , it hurts to watch his apology video. You can tell he is truly being sincere but you can also tell he has been going through it mentally & psychologically. The slap doesnt overshadow the good example he has set over the years \ud83d\ude4f\ud83c\udffe\u201d— J-Nate1906 (@J-Nate1906) 1659119450
\u201cMy favorite part of Will Smith's apology is him making it CLEAR that Jada never told him to do anything to Chris after his joke. So many people built a following off of blaming Jada and spewing hatred at her for what Will did.\u201d— MBali \ud83d\udcab (@MBali \ud83d\udcab) 1659106082
\u201cIn that Will Smith apology...he uses the line:\n\n"I'm trying to be remorseful without being ashamed of myself". \n\nI really like that. \n\nWe are all unfinished projects. No value in people carrying shame w/ them. Better to take steps forward from a place of grace and love.\n\n\u270c\ufe0f\ud83d\udc9c\ud83d\udcab\u201d— \ud83c\udf08 Elli (she/her)\ud83c\udf08 (@\ud83c\udf08 Elli (she/her)\ud83c\udf08) 1659105688
But others felt it was insincere and a publicity stunt.
\u201cWill Smith\u2019s apology \u201d— BLOO! (@BLOO!) 1659112675
\u201cThis Will Smith apology video has PR team written all over it. They're testing the waters to see how the general public feels about him -- nothing to do with Chris.\u201d— Morgan Tremaine (@Morgan Tremaine) 1659132208
\u201cBehind the scenes of Will Smith apology...\n#WillSmith #apology #Memes\u201d— Attack on Show (@Attack on Show) 1659120387
\u201cWill Smith, baby we been stopped caring. You didn\u2019t owe us an apology , send that to Chris and enjoy your summer.\u201d— You could be my daddy if you want to (@You could be my daddy if you want to) 1659125843
And many felt it wasn't Smith who owed the apology, feeling instead that it is Rock who bears responsibility for the incident for having insulted Pinkett Smith.
\u201cWill Smith did nothing wrong in my eyes. The apology was cute. Back to Beyonc\u00e9\u201d— Drebae (@Drebae) 1659107639
\u201cWatching Will Smith\u2019s video apologising for THAT situation and I\u2019ma be so honest with you, he\u2019s a better person than me because Chris Rock wouldn\u2019t get one apology. Til this day, has Chris apologised for the nasty \u201cjokes\u201d he made regarding Jada that night AND before?\u201d— MANNY \ud83e\udef6\ud83c\udffe | #TCMSHOW (@MANNY \ud83e\udef6\ud83c\udffe | #TCMSHOW) 1659105488
\u201cWhy is Will Smith apologizing to Chris Rock? What is there to apologize besides the fact that his wife was assaulted. Where is Chris Rock's apology for Jada?\u201d— Julieth \u2740 (@Julieth \u2740) 1659140920
It seems the controversy over this event may never fully die down.
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