Academy Awards producer Will Packer has praised Will Smith for his honesty following the King Richard star's public apology to Chris Rock.
At the most recent Oscars ceremony, Smith made headlines around the world when he took offence to comments made by Rock.
After the comedian alluded to Jada Pinkett-Smith's alopecia, Smith walked on stage and viciously slapped the comedian before walking back and sending further warnings from his seat in the front row.
That night, he would go on to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in King Richard.
He was subsequently given a 10-year ceremony ban by the Academy and has mostly been away from the public eye since.
Smith has now issued a five-minute-long apology video, released on YouTube, in which he addressed certain questions surrounding the incident.
The first question, read out by Smith, asks 'why didn't you apologise to Chris Rock in your acceptance speech?'
He responds: “I was fogged out by that point. It's all fuzzy. I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is he’s not ready to talk, and when he is, he will reach out. I will say to you, Chris, I apologise to you, my behaviour was unacceptable and I'm here whenever you're ready to talk."
Smith goes on to apologise to Rock's mother for his actions, before shooting down suggestions that his wife Jada asked him to react to Rock at the ceremony.
He finishes the video in a hopeful plea that the pair can patch things up.
“I know it was confusing, I know it was shocking,” he said.
“But I promise you, I am deeply devoted and committed to putting light and love and joy into the world. And, you know, if you hang on, I promise we’ll be able to be friends again.”
Oscars responds to Smith's video
The video has received a mixed reaction, with some praising Smith for his honesty, while others have slammed it as a PR stunt.
Packer, it seems, is in the first camp.
“I love the fact that he’s being so transparent about his process. He is being very public and honest and open about his remorse.” the Oscars producer told Entertainment Tonight.
“I think that he’s got three decades in this business of being somebody that is the exact opposite of who he was in those few seconds, and so I’m pulling for him."
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