Will Smith has finally spoken about slapping Chris Rock at this year's Oscars - but not everybody's convinced his apology is genuine. Photo / Getty Images
Will Smith has finally spoken about slapping Chris Rock at this year's Oscars - but not everybody's convinced his apology is genuine. Photo / Getty Images
Twitter is once again divided over actor Will Smith after he broke his months-long silence on the infamous moment he slapped Chris Rock at the Academy Awards.
Many have condemned it as a PR stunt while others have praised it as a "genuine display of remorse" after Smith apologised to the comedian in a five-minute video posted to his YouTube channel.
The Q&A style video was Smith's attempt to answer "a lot of fair questions" people had about the moment that got him banned from the Academy Awards for 10 years.
"Over the last few months, I've been doing a lot of thinking and personal work," he told fans in the video.
"I've reached out to Chris, and the message that came back is he's not ready to talk, and when he is he will reach out.
Fellow American comedian, Christopher Titus, was among the many Twitter voices that condemned the apology as insincere and self-centred.
Will Smith has lost me again. Dude, Chris said he’ll contact you when he’s ready, why are you pushing him? You attacked a man on a global broadcast. You don’t get to pick the redemption schedule, and by doing it publicly, you made it about you… again. Back, back Bad Boy.
"Will Smith has lost me again," Titus said in a post. "Dude, Chris said he'll contact you when he's ready, why are you pushing him?"
"You attacked a man on a global broadcast. You don't get to pick the redemption schedule, and by doing it publicly, you made it about you ... again."
And according to producer and former actor/director Morgan Tremaine, the video appeared more like a PR stunt than a genuine apology.
"This Will Smith apology video has PR team written all over it," Tremaine said.
"They're testing the waters to see how the general public feels about him – nothing to do with Chris."
But not everyone is convinced that Smith's extended silence and sudden apology has missed the mark.
Lawyer and Political and Women's Rights activist Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu said Smith's apology was "raw and human".
Will Smith apology - I felt it. It’s raw & human. I was very disappointed by his action that night & looks like he doesn’t understand it too but makes no excuses. I respect Chris Rock’s decision to not talk now & take the time he needs. Will set the record straight on Jada - good https://t.co/42lUyOFupJ
— Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu (@SholaMos1) July 29, 2022
"Will Smith apology – I felt it. It's raw and human," Mos-Shogbamimu said.
"I was very disappointed by his action that night and looks like he doesn't understand it too but makes no excuses."
But while Mos-Shogbamimu was appreciative of Smith's public gesture, she also said Rock's decision to stay away from Smith and "take the time he needs" was something to be respected.
Mos-Shogbamimu's sentiments were echoed by popular YouTuber Fraser MacDonald, who also condemned Smith's assault but also sympathised with the actor.
"I don't agree with Will Smith slapping Chris Rock but his apology to me is clearly so genuine and sincere," MacDonald said on Twitter.
"I'm also really not surprised the man snapped like he did, he has been constantly berated by the media for years now and made a mockery whenever he was vulnerable and sad.
"His actions you can agree or disagree with, but I hate how much context was removed from the build up to the situation and people acting like he's this awful human being."
While a key aspect of Smith's video driving the social divide is whether Smith was a victim or a perpetrator of trauma – commenters have agreed that the equally as infamous shot of Jada giving Will "the look" was false.
Smith says his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, never asked him to do anything about Rock's joke at the Oscars ceremony. Photo / Getty Images
Comedienne, media personality and singer Jessie Woo said "her favourite part" of Smith's video was his clarification of Pinkett Smith's involvement.
"My favourite part of Will Smith's apology is him making it CLEAR that Jada never told him to do anything to Chris after his joke," Woo said in a post.
Woo called out the many people and outlets who "built a following" off of "blaming Jada and spewing hatred at her for what Will did".
"Ya'll are too desperate to make her a villain."
In his video, Smith was asked whether wife Jada Pinkett Smith had asked her husband to do anything after visibly rolling her eyes at Rock's joke, before he stormed the stage – to which the actor simply replied "no".
