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Will Smith Wrote An Apology Letter To Chris Rock Over The Oscar's Slap That Many Online Are Calling Insincere

March 29th, 2022 - 10:19 AM EDT by Owen Carry

5 comments

(Facebook / Will Smith)

After Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards, average internet users and trolls alike started memeing the event into oblivion. A lot of backlash was levied towards Smith over the following 24 hours, and it appears he must've heard it. Last night, he posted an official apology letter to Facebook over the incident.

In the letter, Smith started by condemning violence, stating that his behavior was, "unacceptable and inexcusable." He then admitted jokes aimed at him are "part of the job" but those directed at his wife's medical condition make him emotional. Midway through, he namedropped Chris Rock, apologizing to him directly, as well as to the entirety of the Academy Awards. He ended the letter by saying, "I am a work in progress."

Screenshots of Will Smith's apology spread to multiple platforms going into today. On Twitter, many users voiced their viewpoints on the statement. However, a lot of people did not take his letter seriously with many unearthing the video of Smith dancing with his Oscar post-ceremony. One Twitter user stated, "The Publicists have spoken… but #WillSmith already showed how sorry he was."

Others who believed Smith was "insincere and disingenuous" in his apology cited his Oscar acceptance speech in which he only apologized to the Academy and his fellow nominees over Chris Rock. Another image from the night also emerged, of Rock standing at the end of the stage near Smith, awaiting an apology or at least some form of acknowledgment. However, Denzel Washington instead stood there calming the tension between the two celebrities.

There were also more humorous reactions to Smith's apology letter, based on memes instead of outrage. For instance, a couple of Twitter users decided to exploit the Young Thug and Lil Durk Troubleshooting meme to demonstrate how Smith's publicist possibly "ghostwrote" the letter. Others referenced Travis Scott's infamous apology video after the Astroworld disaster.

Meme creators on Instagram also decided to re-edit the apology letter, pretending that Will Smith's final sentiments were wackier than previously imagined. For instance, meme creator @shitheadsteve made an especially viral one.

Although the discourse surrounding this event has been fast-paced, it seems the story is still developing. Going into the rest of the year, it will be interesting to witness how the two men interact, as well as how the internet reacts.

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Comments 5 total

Siker

Mar 30, 2022 at 08:31AM EDT

Will Smith was entirely justified, and anyone who says otherwise can get a taste of what Chris Rock got.

-2

ConspiracyNut

Mar 30, 2022 at 02:43PM EDT Siker

Onto the real question though: is the subject of the conflict, or is it not, a yee-yee-ass haircut?

0

Krazi Shadowbear

Mar 29, 2022 at 11:41AM EDT

So, I know what happens when Youtubers write/make apology letters/videos/tweets, but what happens when a celebrity does it?
Is it still the same "There's no going back, what you did is unforgivable, get out of my sight", or "Fine, since you apologized, I'll accept it for now", or is it naturally a mixture of both? Like how Youtube "normally" or "sometimes" is?
I'm not very knowledgeable about these sorts of things, so if someone could give me some insight, that'd be much appreciated.

1

JJvagnar

Mar 29, 2022 at 12:30PM EDT Krazi Shadowbear

Please note this is what Will did afterwards. His apology is less he's sorry for what he did then he fears for his career

1

Krazi Shadowbear

Apr 03, 2022 at 06:06PM EDT JJvagnar

Interesting.
But no one's taking up arms or getting aggressive against him or anything?

0

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