After the “slap heard ’round the world,” actor Will Smith will seek out therapy to explore his “unresolved childhood issues” that he is “battling to save his career and reputation,” according to the Daily Mail.
In a shocking event at the 94th Academy Awards on Sunday, Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage after the comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife’s hairstyle.
“A source close to Mark Manson, who co-wrote Smith’s 2021 memoir ‘Will,’ said the actor was ‘deeply triggered’ by Rock’s comments about his wife’s alopecia, as it took him straight back to his traumatic childhood,” the Daily Mail reported. “Friends claim Smith reacted violently after he felt like a ‘coward’ for failing to intervene when he saw his father brutally beat up his mother aged nine.”
The day after the slap, Smith took to Instagram to apologize. “My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable,” Smith wrote. “I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong.”
The “source” said Smith was “horrified by the turn of events and is filled with a deep sense of shame.”
“He is happy to have some more therapy for his unresolved childhood issues and will do what he can to make good on his momentary lapse in judgement. Essentially, though, Will was deeply triggered by Chris’ demeaning comments about his wife’s alopecia. He was taken straight back to childhood, seeing his mum getting abused by his dad. This time he didn’t take it sitting down and retaliated as, unfortunately, 50 million people across the globe all saw,” the source said.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has reportedly told members that top officials are “upset and outraged” over the incident, CNN reported. “The letter from Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson says the group is working on a ‘determination’ on ‘appropriate action’ for Smith, which could ‘take a few weeks.”
Smith’s full apology is below:
Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.
I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.
I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us.
I am a work in progress.Sincerely,
Will
Joseph Curl has covered politics for 35 years, including 12 years as White House correspondent, and ran the Drudge Report from 2010 to 2015. Send tips to [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @josephcurl.
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Source: Dailywire