The Rock has subtly slapped himself on comedy shows in recent months, but hasn’t mentioned it extensively publicly. He took the same approach during his performance on Friday.
“Everybody’s trying to be a victim. If everybody claims to be a victim, then nobody’s going to listen to the real victims,” Rock said. “Even I get hit by Sug Smith…I went to work the next day, had kids.”
He later said, “He who speaks hurtful words has never been hit in the face.”
Smith charged the stage and slammed Rock after he made a joke about his alopecia-stricken wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s hairstyle.
In the video posted to his social media accounts, an official Smith begins with an on-screen message: “Over the past few months, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and personal work… You’ve asked a lot of fair questions that I wanted to take a moment to answer. “, he says.
Smith sighs then offers his thoughts on a brawl that made headlines worldwide and tarnished his image.
He explains why he didn’t apologize to The Rock during his Oscar acceptance speech for Best Actor in ‘King Richard’.
“I was clouded by that point,” he says. “It’s all a blur.”
Smith says he’s tried to contact Rock but he’s indicated he’s not ready to talk and will when he is.
“Well I’ll tell you Chris, I apologize. My behavior was unacceptable and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.”
Smith also apologized to Rock’s family, including his mother, his family and his brother, Tony Rock, who starred in the 2007 sitcom “All of Us” created by the Smiths.
“We had a great relationship,” says Smith. “Tony Rock was my man and that’s probably irreparable.”
Smith also apologizes to his wife, their children and his Oscar nominees.
“Letting people down is my central trauma,” she says. I hate when I let people down and it hurts.”
Smith sends a message to his supporters, saying he is committed to “putting light, love and joy into the world.”
“If you keep going, I promise we can be friends again,” he concludes.
The Academy has sanctioned Smith by barring him from attending the Oscars for the next 10 years. Smith also issued an apology on Instagram in March, calling his behavior “unacceptable and inexcusable.”
