Oscar-winner Will Smith has taken to his Instagram to post a brief mea culpa following his altercation with comedian Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards on Monday.
Smith, 53, took to the Oscar's stage and struck Rock, 57, after the comedian made a joke about the actor's wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
While many in the audience initially presumed the incident to be a set-up, Smith then twice yelled at Rock, "Take my wife's name out of your f*cking mouth!"
Pinkett Smith has alopecia, a fact she has made public. Rock's joke highlighted that the actress is bald.
Less than an hour later, Smith won the Academy's top prize for his portrayal of Richard Williams, the father of tennis sisters Serena and Venus.
Will Smith slaps Chris Rock onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. Source: Getty
The scene instantly became viral, prompting innumerable responses defending and criticising both Smith and Rock in equal measure.
In his apology, the newly-minted Oscar-winner said he was "a work in progress".
"Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable," the actor wrote in the post.
"I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong.
"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 reacted emotionally."
Meanwhile, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, host of the Oscars, has condemned Smith's behaviour and has launched a formal review of the incident.
In a statement on Monday, the 9900-member film academy said it "condemns the actions of Mr Smith at last night's show".
Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith attending the Vanity Fair Oscar Party 2022, Los Angeles. Credit: Doug Peters/EMPICS. Source: Doug Peters
"We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our Bylaws, Standards of Conduct and California law," the statement said.
Violations of the group's standards of conduct policy may result in suspension or expulsion from the group, revocation of Oscars, or loss of eligibility for future awards.
It is rare but not unprecedented for the film academy to revoke membership.
Producer Harvey Weinstein was expelled in 2017 after more than three dozen women accused him of sexual assault. Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski were kicked out in 2018.
