Actor Will Smith, who was once known for his role on the hit sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Belaire, but has now become notorious for delivering a massive slap to fellow actor and comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars, has come out in response to a new Netflix special where Rock addresses the blow, saying he’s “embarrassed and hurt” by it.
Smith said he wants Rock to “let it go,” revealing he’s also upset with Netflix for giving the comedian a platform for the special.
“During the comedy show, Rock mentions cheating rumors that surround Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, saying, ‘His wife was fucking her son’s friend, okay?” adding, “She hurt him way more than he hurt me. And who does he hit? Me,'” Breitbart News reported.
“I have rooted for Will Smith, my whole life I’ve rooted for this mother fucker, okay? And now, I watch Emancipation just to see him get whooped,” Rock states during the comedy special.
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The source went on to say that while Smith has not watched Rock’s special, people have told him what he has said, and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air star would like for the comedian to “let it go.” Smith also expressed that he has worked on himself since the incident, and wants Rock to “move on” so that he and everyone else can as well, the source added.
The Source also told Entertainment Tonight that Smith is upset that Netflix gave Rock a platform, and thinks its “distasteful.” As for Rock, he has said everything he wanted to say in his comedy special, and is now ready to move on, the source added. Rock’s Netflix special is the first time the comedian has spoken publicly about the infamous slap, in which Smith marched onto the stage of the Oscars last year and attacked Rock after he made a joke about his wife.
While the Academy Awards condemned his actions, Smith was nonetheless free to later collect his Oscar for Best Actor, which he won for his performance as Venus and Serena Williams’ father Richard Williams in King Richard.
WATCH: Will Smith, along with his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, dances to his own tunes at the Vanity Fair #Oscars After-party.
He won the Best Actor for #KingRichard #Oscar2022 #VanityFairOscarParty #WillSmith pic.twitter.com/GTz7JOjKEW
— Aayush Sharma (@JournoAayu) March 28, 2022
Five days after the infamous slap, Smith decided to step down from the Motion Picture Academy, issuing a statement that said his “actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable.”
Then the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences board of governors officially banned Smith from attending the Academy Awards or any related events for a decade.
