Will Smith posts video about slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars

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Will Smith has posted a video about an incident earlier this year that saw him strike Chris Rock at the Oscars.

Taking to Facebook, the King Richard star, 53, shared his first spoken remarks about the shocking altercation that dominated headlines for many weeks.

In the five-minute video, Smith reiterated how remorseful he was about hitting the 57-year-old comic, who made a joke about his wife Jade Pinkett Smith's shaved head.

Contrary to popular belief, Smith maintains that he wasn't angry because Pinkett Smith rolled her eyes at Rock's joke; but rather, he did it of his own accord as he felt the gag was demeaning. He also revealed in a rather cryptic way that he and Rock had "history".

Smith spoke about the trauma he had suffered in the wake of March's 94th Academy Awards. He said he felt awful for disappointing his fans, saying: "I didn't live up to people's image and impression of me."

Addressing the reason he hadn't apologized to Rock, the The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum said he tried to get in touch with the funnyman, but he wasn't ready to speak to him. He confirmed that they still haven't spoken since the Oscars.

Smith continued: "I am human and I made a mistake and I'm trying not to think of myself as a piece of s***."

Speaking about Tony Rock, brother to Chris Rock and former friend of Smith, the 'Gettin' Jiggy Wit It' performer said he had apologized to him but admitted that what he had done was "irreparable."

Check out what Smith had to say here:

He then apologized to Quest Love, who won the award Rock had been presenting when Smith slapped him. Smith also apologized to Rock's mother and a number of other individuals.

At the prestigious event in March, Rock had been presenting the award for Best Documentary. While on stage, he made a joke about Pinkett Smith's short haircut, which evidently was enough to rile up her husband - as the actress has been vocal about her alopecia.

What happened next shocked Hollywood as well as millions of ordinary people around the world. Smith previously accepted the Academy's decision to ban him from the Oscars for a period of 10 years.

Little, however, had been heard from Rock - the recipient of what has now been dubbed "The Slap". But during a recent stand-up show, he joked: "Anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face."

Featured image credit: REUTERS / Alamy