Smith posted a video on his verified Instagram account and YouTube on Friday that began with the words on the screen: “It’s been a minute.”
“Over the past few months I have been doing a lot of personal thinking and work…” the statement read.
Will Smith releases emotional video apology for Oscars slap, says Chris Rock ‘not ready’ to talk to him (YouTube/WillSmith)
“You asked a lot of fair questions that I wanted to take some time to answer.”
Smith can then be heard sighing, goes on screen and explains to the camera why he didn’t apologize to Rock during his Oscar acceptance speech after his Best Actor win for his role in King Richard.
“It was blacked out at the time,” says Smith.
“It’s all confusing. I’ve contacted Chris and the message he got back is that he’s not ready to talk and when he is, he’s going to put his hand up. So I’ll tell you, Chris, I apologize. My behavior . was unacceptable and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.”
CNN has reached out to Rock’s representatives for comment.
Smith also apologizes to Rock’s mother, family and his brother Tony Rock, who starred in the 2007 sitcom All of Us, which was created by Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
“We had a great relationship,” says Smith. “Tony Rock was my man and that’s probably beyond repair.”
Smith took the Oscars stage and slapped Chris Rock, who was hosting at the time, after making a joke about Smith’s wife’s shaved head.
Pinkett Smith suffers from hair loss due to alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that can cause hair loss.
Smith explains why he didn’t apologize to Rock during his Oscar acceptance speech after his best actor win (AP)
In his video, Smith also responds to the question of whether his wife, after rolling her eyes at Rock’s joke, asked him to do something at the time saying she didn’t.
He also apologizes to her, her children, and her fellow Academy nominees in the post.
Smith says he “spent the last three months replaying and understanding the nuance and complexities of what happened at the time.”
Smith also apologizes to Rock’s mother, family and brother Tony Rock, who starred in the 2007 comedy All of Us, created by Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett Smith (YouTube/WillSmith).
“I’m not going to try to unpack all of that right now, but I can tell you all that there’s no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave at the time,” he says.
“There’s no part of me that thinks that’s the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insults.”
Smith adds that it hurts him to know he didn’t live up to the image people had of him.
Smith also responds to the question of whether his wife, after rolling her eyes at Rock’s joke, asked him to do something at the time saying she didn’t (Getty)
“Disappointing people is my central trauma,” he says. “I hate it when I let people down and it hurts.”
Smith directs a message to his followers, saying he is committed to “bringing light, love and joy to the world.”
“If you hold on, I promise we can be friends again,” he concludes.