Chris Rock who was last Sunday evening, struck by Will Smith after he made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith, referencing her shaved head despite her previously opening up about suffering from the hair loss condition alopecia.
Smith, 53, has though since apologized for his actions, but the Academy has condemned his behaviour and has launched a formal investigation, while stating in a new statement that he ‘refused’ to leave the ceremony when he was asked to do so.
However, Rock, 57, during a recent stand-up show said that he will talk more about the slap ‘at some point’, promising to deliver a ‘serious and funny’ comment.
While addressing the audience at his show in Boston, he said: ‘How was your weekend?,’ with CNN’s Elizabeth Joseph saying that he had ‘tears in his eyes’ as he told his fans: ‘Let me be all misty.’
Rock said that he didn’t have a ‘bunch’ of things to say about what occurred, ‘so if you came to hear that, I have a whole show I wrote before this weekend’.
The comedian continued, stating: ‘I’m still kind of processing what happened.’
He said that he would talk about what happened ‘at some point’, adding: ‘And it will be serious and funny.’
Rock was reportedly given a standing ovation by the audience before beginning his set.
National Daily gathered from the report by Daily Mail, that there were a couple of hecklers in attendance, who shouted ‘Will Smith’ twice, prompting boos from the other patrons.
One man is said to have been dragged out of the show by security, as Rock remarked: ‘Is this how this tour is going to go?’
In a statement released by the Academy, the organisation said that ‘things unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated’.
‘While we would like to clarify that Mr Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognise we could have handled the situation differently,’ they said.
The statement described Smith slapping Rock as ‘a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television’.
The Academy also apologised to Rock, thanking him for his ‘resilience in that moment’.
‘We also apologise to our nominees, guests and viewers for what transpired during what should have been a celebratory event,’ it added.
Smith meanwhile, in the apology he released on social media said that ‘violence in all its forms is poisonous’ National Daily can confirm.
‘I would like to publicly apologise 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,’ he wrote.
The actor, who won the best actor Academy Award for his performance in King Richard shortly after the incident, also apologised to the Williams family.
‘I would also like to apologise to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologise to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family,’ he said.
‘I deeply regret that my behaviour has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress.’