Actor Will Smith apologized to Chris Rock for hitting the comedian during the live broadcast of the glamorous Oscar ceremony in Hollywood. “I would like to apologize publicly to you, Chris. I was off the line and I was wrong. “I am ashamed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be,” the Oscar winner for best actor wrote on Instagram on Monday night. Smith took the stage and hit Rock in the face after the comedian made a joke about the appearance of Smith’s wife. Less than an hour later, Smith won the Best Actor Award for his role as the father of tennis star Venus and Serena Williams in King Richard. Rock, in a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, referred to the 1997 film GI Jane in which actress Demi Moore shaved her head. It was not clear if Rock knew that Smith’s wife had a disease that causes hair loss. “Jokes against me are part of the job,” Smith said Monday, “but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me and I reacted emotionally.” “I am ashamed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be,” he added. The couple has been married since 1997. The apology comes after the 9,900-member Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the body that awards the Oscars, condemned the actions of the 53-year-old actor and said it was re-examining the incident. “We have formally launched a formal review of the incident and will investigate further actions and consequences in accordance with our Statutes, Standards of Ethics and California law,” the academy added. The group’s policy states that it “opposes all forms of abuse, harassment or discrimination” and expects members to uphold the values of “respect for human dignity, inclusion and a supportive environment that fosters creativity”. Violations may result in suspension or expulsion from the organization, revocation of the Oscars, or loss of eligibility for future awards, according to the policy. SAG-AFTRA, the union representing the actors, described Smith’s actions as “unacceptable” and said it had contacted the academy and the broadcaster ABC “to ensure that this behavior is handled properly”. It is rare, but not unprecedented, for a film academy to revoke its membership. Producer Harvey Weinstein was fired in 2017 after more than three dozen women accused him of sexual assault. Weinstein was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison in March 2020 after being found guilty of rape and other sexual offenses. Smith’s attack shocked the public and divided the celebrities. Rock declined to comment, according to US media. In a statement, Smith also apologized to the academy, the show’s producers, attendees, viewers, the Williams family and “my King Richard family.” “Violence in all its forms is poisonous and destructive. “My behavior at yesterday’s Oscars was unacceptable and unjustified,” Smith wrote in his apology.
