A few days after he first spoke out about the slap at the Oscar Gala and after the video in which Will Smith apologizes, Chris Rock has again spoken out about the incident, writes the American magazine People. In a stand-up show, the comedian denounced in a monolog the way in which “every person is trying to be a victim in this case.”
“If everyone says they’re a victim, then no one will listen to the real victims. I mean me, who was beaten by Suge Smith,” he said, referring to Suge Knight, rap icon and co-founder of Death Row Records, who was sentenced to 28 years in prison in 2015 for the murder of rap producer Terry Carter.
“I went to work the day after (the slap). I’ve kids (to feed),” he added. “People who say that only words can hurt have never been punched in the face.”
Will Smith, who shocked his fans and the film world when he punched Chris Rock in the face on stage at the Oscars in March, released a video Friday apologizing to the comedian. The star apologized in a statement the day after the incident, which overshadowed Oscar night on March 27. Will Smith has now stated his feelings.
“I contacted Chris and the message I got was that he wasn’t ready to talk and if he was, he’d come after me,” Smith said in the nearly 6-minute video posted on social media.
“So I’m telling you, Chris, I apologize. My behavior was unacceptable and I’m here when you’re ready to talk.”
Will Smith also apologized to Chris Rock’s mother and brother, as well as his family, especially his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith. That night, a joke by Chris Rock about his wife’s haircut, who suffers from alopecia – a condition that causes hair loss, which she spoke about – sparked the scandal.
“I’ve spent the last three months trying to understand the nuances and subtleties of what happened that day,” Will Smith said in his video. “I’m not going to try to analyze it all right now, but I can tell you that there was no part of me that believed that this was the right way to behave in that moment.
He deeply regrets letting his fans down and explains that he’s trying “not to look remorseful without feeling ashamed.” “I’m a human being and I made a mistake and I try not to be a bastard,” he concluded.