Will Smith tearfully opens up to Trevor Noah about the 'anger' behind his slapping at the Oscars, and Will Smith is so sorry for the slapping Will Smith returned to the infamous Oscars night for the first time in his first big TV interview since slapping Chris Rock on stage last March.
Will Smith tearfully opens up to Trevor Noah about 'anger', Will Smith is so sorry for the slap
Speaking to Trevor Noah on Monday night's Daily Show, Smith described how he "just lost it" over a rock joke about Smith's wife's hair. “This was an anger that has been covered up for a really long time,” he said, prefacing his comments by saying that his feelings did not justify his behavior.
"I guess what I'll say is you never know what someone's going through. I was going through something that night... It's like they were saying 'hurt people,' you know?"
Smith said his biggest challenge over the past eight months has been learning to forgive himself for "being human."
"I had to humble myself and realize that I am a flawed human being and still have a chance to go out into the world and contribute in a way that fills my heart and that I hope will help others," he said.
Throughout the 20-minute interview, Noah spoke as much as Smith did, offering forgiveness and affection as Smith tearfully nodded his head.
.jpg "Will Smith tearfully opens up to Trevor Noah about 'anger', Will Smith is so sorry for the slap")
"You're one of those rare breeds of people who've spent more time in the spotlight than when out of it," said Noah.
"I think I speak for a lot of people when I say I don't want that to define you. I don't think it should define you. I don't think any of us in life deserve to be defined by a f**k-up."
Smith was at the show to promote the new movie Emancipation, a dark historical drama in which Smith plays a runaway slave.
Antoine Fuqua, the film's director, has repeatedly defended Apple's decision to release Emancipation in December, even as Smith's slap continues to dominate Hollywood discourse.
Speaking on a morning talk show earlier this week, Smith said he would understand if audiences chose to skip watching the movie to interrupt his behavior.
"I would fully respect that and allow them space that isn't ready," Smith told Good Day DC journalist Kevin McCarthy.
“My biggest concern is my team. … The people on this team have done some of the best work of their entire careers, and I hope my actions don't penalize my team. At this point, that's what I'm working for.”
"I completely understand that if...someone is not ready, I would absolutely respect that and allow them their space to not be ready...My deepest hope is that my actions don't penalize my team."
— Kevin McCarthy (@KevinMcCarthyTV) November 28, 2022
Will Smith on audiences who aren't ready to watch his films after Oscars. #GoodDayDC pic.twitter.com/2fc3XaXbMa
Expanding on how he disappointed those around him, Smith shared a story about how his 9-year-old nephew reacted to seeing the slap on TV.
"He's been staying up late to see Uncle Will. We're sitting in my kitchen, and he's on my lap holding his Oscar. And he's just like, 'Why did you hit that guy, Uncle Will?' Smith said, pausing to wipe away the tears.
"Why are you trying Opera for me?" Noah joked. "Look, it was a mess. I don't want to overdo it to give people more misunderstandings."
Smith's popularity with fans was built in part on his cheerful demeanor. He told NPR's Fresh Air last year that he designed that image to cover up childhood trauma, including witnessing his father beating his mother when he was 9 years old.
Smith later resigned from the Academy
His appearance on Comedy Central, which averages 370,000 viewers per episode, was Smith's first big TV interview — and one of his first public appearances — since the Oscars on March 27. Noah described that night as one of the best and worst nights of Smith's life, not to mention his career.
The actor won his first Best Actor Oscar for his performance in King Richard, but his success was overshadowed by the famous slapping and the aftermath. Smith later resigned from the Academy, which also banned him from all of its activities for the next ten years.
Smith apologized to Rock
Eventually, Smith apologized to Rock, in a video posted to social media in July, but Rock said at the time he was not ready to discuss the incident. He has since reportedly joked about the incident at various stand-up shows.