A day after slapping comedian, presenter Chris Rock on stage at the 94th Oscars, Will Smith issued him a public apology on Monday. Taking to Instagram, Will posted a long note saying that he was embarrassed and his actions were ‘out of line’.

Will Smith stormed the Oscars stage and struck comedian Chris Rock across the face for joking about his wife, in a moment at Sunday’s gala that immediately went viral and left stunned viewers questioning if it had been scripted or genuine. 

Rock, presenting the best documentary prize with a short comedy routine, had cracked a joke comparing Jada Pinkett Smith’s tightly cropped hair to Demi Moore’s appearance in the film “G.I. Jane” and suggesting she appear in a sequel.

Confusion ensued in the aftermath of the tragedy. Some others imagined it had been a sloppy piece of writing. Others attempted to make sense of what had occurred as soon as they understood it was true. Smith and Pinkett Smith’s children were comforted by actors such as Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry in commercials.

In his tear-filled speech, Smith compared himself to Richard Williams, a man who is also known as “a fierce defender of his family.”

“I know to do what we do, you gotta be able to take abuse,” he said. “You gotta be able to have people disrespecting you, and you gotta smile and you gotta pretend like that’s okay.… I look like the crazy father, just like they said.… Love will make you do crazy things.”

He concluded his speech by apologizing to the Academy and to his fellow nominees. “I hope the Academy invites me back,” Smith added. 

After a commercial break, cohost Amy Schumer made a quick quip about Rock and Smith. “I’ve been getting out of that Spider-Man costume. Did I miss anything?” she asked as the audience—Smith included—laughed. “There’s, like, a different vibe in here. Probably not. Well, anyway—okay.”

In his post, Smith said that he understood that “jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I react emotionally”. 

“I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be,” he added. “There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.” 

The incident has piled more pressure on the Academy, which has been trying to retool the Oscars amid lower ratings for the annual program. Some critics said Smith should have been escorted from the auditorium after the incident instead of being allowed to stay for the rest of the ceremony. 

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