Will Smith Talks ‘Horrific’ Oscars Slap in First Late Night Interview Since Incident: ‘That Is Not Who I Want to Be’ - Rolling Stone

After shocking audiences by slapping comedian Chris Rock during a live broadcast of the Academy Awards, Will Smith returned to late-night television on Monday and sat down with Trevor Noah on The Daily Show.

When Noah asked Smith about his experience following the infamous moment, Smith said it was a “horrific night.”.

Smith, who won an Oscar for best actor for his portrayal of Richard Williams in King Richard just minutes after the incident, also told the host, “I guess the thing that was most painful for me is, I took my hard and made it hard for other people.” When talking about what he learned in the months after, he also said, “I understood the idea when they say hurt people hurt people.”.

I know that as Black people, Black people get together and go, ‘What was Will doing.

What the hell happened?’ Noah said.

“A lot of Black people were like, ‘He should go to jail.’ Like, you need to relax yourself.”.

“We are sitting in my kitchen and he is on my lap and he is holding the Oscar and he is just like, ‘Why did you hit that man, Uncle Will?’ Damn it

In an earlier video interview with Fox 5, Smith said he would “completely understand” if people aren’t ready to see Emancipation, but hopes “the power of the film” will overcome the headlines that have followed him all year

Noah ended the interview by saying that the controversy “shouldn’t define” Smith’s legacy