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Chris Rock “isn’t ready to speak” to Will Smith despite his recent public apology for slapping Rock during the live telecast of the 94th Academy Awards in March.
“Chris has no plans to reach out to Will,” a source told Entertainment Tonight.
Rock, who is currently on tour, believes the timing of Smith’s apology is “more for Will’s best interest.”
“He needs the public’s forgiveness, not Chris,” the insider added.
Chris Rock reportedly has “no plans” to talk to Will Smith following his on-camera apology released on Friday for slapping the comic at the Academy Awards.
(Getty Images)
WILL SMITH OPENS UP ON CHRIS ROCK OSCARS SLAP
Smith shared a video on YouTube Friday answering everyone’s most asked questions, including why he did not apologize to Rock during his acceptance speech. After Smith walked up on stage and slapped Rock for telling a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, he went on to win Best Actor for his role in “King Richard.”
“I was fogged out by that point,” Smith admitted about the lack of an immediate apology to Rock. “It’s all fuzzy.”
The “Gemini Man” actor revealed he has reached out to Rock to talk about the incident, but claimed the comedian is not ready to sit down with him. He also spent the five-minute-long video apologizing to Rock and others — including Rose Rock.
“I want to apologize to Chris’ mother,” Smith said. “I saw an interview that Chris’ mother did, and, you know, that was one of the things about that moment. I just didn’t realize, and, you know, I wasn’t thinking, but how many people got hurt in that moment,” the actor explained.
Will Smith, right, hits presenter Chris Rock on stage while presenting the award for best documentary feature at the Oscars on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
(Chris Pizzello)
Rock’s mother, Rose, initially said, “When Will slapped Chris, he slapped all of us, but he really slapped me.”
“So I want to apologize to Chris’ mother,” Smith continued. “I want to apologize to Chris’ family. Specifically, Tony Rock [Chris’ younger brother]. You know, we had a great relationship. Tony Rock was my man. And this is probably irreparable.”
While performing at Atlanta’s Fox Theater as part of his “Ego Death World Tour” on Friday night, Rock compared Smith to the former Death Row Records co-founder, Marion “Suge” Knight, who is currently serving a 28-year prison sentence after pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter in 2018 following a fatal confrontation in Los Angeles in 2015.
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“Everybody is trying to be a f—ing victim,” Rock said, via People magazine. “If everybody claims to be a victim, then nobody will hear the real victims. Even me getting smacked by Suge Smith… I went to work the next day, I got kids.”
During the peak of his career in the ‘90s, Knight was known for putting West Coast rap on the map with the massive success of Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” followed by Snoop Dogg’s “Doggystyle” in 1993. Shortly after, he helped broker a deal to secure Tupac Shakur’s release from prison and subsequent signing to the label, with his “All Eyez on Me” released in 1996.
“Anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face,” he added, words he’s echoed in a previous show while touring recently with Kevin Hart on “Only Headliners Allowed.”
Knight was known for music just as much as he was for his temper, and was allegedly the ring leader in a string of violent deals. Shakur was in Knight’s car when he was killed in a drive-by attack in Las Vegas in September 1996. A similar drive-by shooting killed Shakur’s East Coast rival, The Notorious B.I.G. in March 1997, with Knight assumed to be the prime suspect. Knight had felony convictions for armed robbery and assault, and lost control of the label when it was forced into bankruptcy in 2009.
The late Tupac Shakur and Marion “Suge” Knight were pictured in 1996. Knight is currently serving a 28-year prison sentence after pleading no contest to voluntary manslaughter in 2018.
(Jeff Kravitz)
“I’m not a victim. Yeah, that s— hurt, motherf—er. But, I shook that s— off and went to work the next day. I don’t go to the hospital for a paper cut,” Rock reportedly told the crowd in New Jersey last week, via Us Weekly.
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At the Oscars, Rock made a joke about “G.I. Jane” and referenced Jada’s bald head. Pinkett Smith had previously discussed her struggles with alopecia, an autoimmune disorder that causes hair loss.
Days later, the “Independence Day” star announced his resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in a statement provided to Fox News Digital, saying he had “betrayed the trust of the Academy.”
“I have directly responded to the academy’s disciplinary hearing notice, and I will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct,” he said.
Following his resignation, which was accepted by the Academy, Smith was banned for 10 years from attending Oscars events and shows.
Fox News’ Lauryn Overhultz contributed to this report.
