"Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive," Academy Award winner Will Smith wrote Monday, less than 24 hours after his shocking slap of comedian Chris Rock on the Oscars stage Sunday night.
"My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable," Smith continued in his Instagram post. "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."
Related
The Best Actor winner went on to say that he would like to publicly apologize to Rock and said he was out of line and wrong for hitting him out of anger over the joke.
Smith's reaction Sunday night came as Rock said a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith, looking like G.I. Jane in her nearly shaven haircut. While Smith seemed to smile from his seat in the audience, Pinkett-Smitt looked displeased, and Smith walked onto the stage and slapped Rock across the face shortly after.
Related
In several audio recordings from the awards ceremony, Smith is heard telling Rock to keep his wife's name out of his mouth, in less polite wording.
"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," Smith said in his long apology shared on social media.
"I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress."
To read Smith's apology in its entirety, view the Instagram post below.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign up and follow Audacy
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram