Comedian Chris Rock has reportedly responded to Will Smith’s new apology, albeit indirectly, during an on stage performance in New Jersey.
“If everybody claims to be a victim, then nobody will hear the real victims,” Rock said. “Even me getting smacked by Suge Smith… I went to work the next day, I got kids,” he said, according to CNN.
He later added: “Anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face”.
Smith recently released a five-minute direct to camera video where he apologizes for charging the Oscars stage earlier this year and slapping Rock — who was hosting the ceremony at the time — after he made a G.I. Jane joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith. Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia.
“Disappointing people is my central trauma. I hate when I let people down, so it hurts me psychologically and emotionally that I didn’t live up to peoples’ image and impression of me,” Smith said in the video.
“The work I am trying to do is — I am deeply remorseful and I’m trying to be remorseful without being ashamed of myself. I’m human and I made a mistake and I’m trying not to think of myself as a piece of shit.
“So I would say to those people, I know it was confusing. I know it was shocking. But I promise you, I am deeply devoted and committed to putting light and love and joy into the world.”
He added that he had reached out to Rock, but the comic wasn’t keen to talk. “I will say to you Chris, I apologize to you”, he said. “My behavior was unacceptable and I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.”
Watch Will Smith’s apology video below.
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