Will Smith Addresses Oscar's Slap in Emotional Apology Video

Screengrab: Will Smith/YouTube

Less than a week after Chris Rock finally addressed the incident, and four months after delivering the slap that shocked the cinema world, Will Smith posted a video to YouTube Friday to apologize again for striking the comedian during the live TV broadcast of the Academy Awards ceremony.

“I spent the last three months replaying and understanding the complexities and nuances of what happened in that moment,” Smith, who earned his first Oscar for "King Richard" moments after striding onto the stage and delivering a backhand to Rock, following a G. I. Jane joke at the expense of his wife Jada Pinkett Smith who has been candid over the years about her struggles with the hair-loss triggering condition alopecia.

He continued, “I’m not gonna try to unpack all of that right now, but I can say to all of you, there is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment. There’s no part of me that thinks that’s the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect of insults.”

Smith had previously posted an apology on Instagram hours after the incident. The video message, however, strove to answer questions about his motivations for his bad behavior as well as extend apologies to the comedian's family.

See the UNCENSORED version of now Oscar winner Will Smith slap to Chris Rock#Oscars #WillSmith #ChrisRock #Academy #Awards #Winners #Movies #Film #News pic.twitter.com/DUYJGT4VNW

— Que Onda Magazine (@queondamagazine) March 28, 2022

"It's been a minute," the opening credits of the video read. "Over the last few months, I've been doing a lot of thinking and personal work. You asked a lot of fair questions that I wanted to take some time to answer."

Among those answers were two that fans, television talking heads and entertainment rags had been speculating on for some time. Did his wife have anything to do with the attack, and why did he not apologize on stage when he accepted his award?

“I made a choice on my own, from my own experiences from my history with Chris. Jada had nothing to do with it," Smith said, making it clear that he was to blame for any actions he took that night. As for why he didn't immediately apologize to Rock during his acceptance speech for best actor, the Grammy winner said, "I was fogged out by that point. It’s all fuzzy."

Kevin Hart and Dave Chappelle surprised fellow comedian Chris Rock with a live goat—which they jokingly named ‘Will Smith’— during a recent comedy performance at Madison Square Garden. pic.twitter.com/n7AmRXbcQG

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) July 28, 2022

Seemingly holding back tears, Smith went on to offer apologies to Rock's mother, Rose, and brother Tony, as well as musician Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, who picked up his best documentary Oscar for Summer of Soul in the awkward moments following the slap.

The star also acknowledged that his apology, though sincere, might be too late.

"I've reached out to Chris and the message that came back is that he's not ready to talk, and when he is he will reach out," he said. "So, I will say to you, Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable, and I'm here whenever you're ready to talk."

Rock has been tight-lipped concerning the subject in public. His first comments came over the weekend while headlining stand-up shows in New York and New Jersey.

“Yeah, that s—t hurt, motherf—ker, but I shook that s—t off and went to work the next day,” Rock said.

He added, “I’m not a victim, motherf—ker. I don’t go to the hospital for a paper cut.”

Watch the full apology video embedded below.

Beyoncé Shares Herself, Rare Pictures of Her Family in Open Letter Preceding Seventh Studio Album Release

Photo via Beyonce.com

One day after a leak threatened to steal the thunder of her first new music in six years and with eclectic R&B diva Kelis renewing their somewhat one-sided feud over an alleged sample on the new album, Beyoncé showed no signs of stress.

In fact, it seems like the pop music crown was not weighing particularly heavy on her head at all as Queen Bey failed to address either the leak, or Kelis' accusation, and instead took to the internet to celebrate with fans.

With one day to go until the official July 29 release of the Grammy winner's latest effort "Renaissance," she shared a special message with her legions of fans, known colloquially as the BeyHive.

Beyoncé’s already dealing with leaks ahead of her "Renaissance" album release, and now she's facing accusations of theft from Kelis ... who says she had no part in clearing a sample for Bey's record. https://t.co/299UzmfQRe

— TMZ (@TMZ) July 28, 2022

“This three act project was recorded over three years during the pandemic,” said Beyoncé explaining its genesis. “A time to be still, but also a time I found to be the most creative.” She also wrote, “My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking.”

The 40-year-old goes on to call the process of creating the album a "beautiful journey of exploration," and thank family members, cultural and musical pioneers, her producers and perhaps most importantly her husband Jay-Z and the couple's three kids.

"I want to give a special thank you to Rumi, Sir and Blue for allowing me the space, creativity, and inspiration," she said. "And a special thanks to my husband and muse, who held me down during those late nights in the studio."

Read the entire message below.

This three act project was recorded over three years during the pandemic. A time to be still, but also a time I found to be the most creative.

Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world. It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving. My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom. It was a beautiful journey of exploration.

I want to give a special thank you to Rumi, Sir, and Blue for allowing me the space, creativity, and inspiration. And a special thanks to my beautiful husband and muse, who held me down during those late nights in the studio. A big thank you to my Uncle Johnny. He was my godmother and the first person to expose me to a lot of the music and culture that serve as inspiration for this album. Thank you to all of the pioneers who originate culture, to all of the fallen angels whose contributions have gone unrecognized for far too long. This is a celebration for you. Thank you to my Parkwood crew, my slab, Dream, and all of the talented producers involved. Mama, I luhhhh you. To my father, my O.G., my first teacher: You inspire me in every move that I make. I love you.

To all of my fans: I hope you find joy in this music. I hope it inspires you to release the wiggle. Ha! And to feel as unique, strong, and sexy as you are.

Love y’all deep,

B

Photo via Beyonce.com

Chuck D to Tell 'The Story of Hip-Hop' in Four-Part Docuseries Slated for 2023

Kim Metso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Chuck D's docuseries “Fight The Power: How Hip Hop Changed The World," finally has a premiere date.

PBS, along with its partner BBC Studios, announced today at the Television Critics Association summer press tour, that the Chuck D-produced series will make its debut on January 31, 2023.

“PBS is excited to join with Chuck D, Lorrie Boula and BBC Music to bring this illuminating project to audiences across our platforms,” said Bill Gardner, Vice President of Multiplatform Programming and Head of Development for PBS, of the impending launch. “Hip hop is one of the most influential artistic genres and cultural movements of our time, and we’re thrilled to tell a deep and unflinching story with one of its originators and most powerful voices.”

First announced during January's TCA winter press tour the series was developed by the Public Enemy co-founder and his manager Lorrie Boula, it promises to “trace the story of this globally influential art form over the past 40 years up to today” and will feature some of the arts' most influential names including Grandmaster Caz, Ice-T, Abiodun Oyewole (The Last Poets), Roxanne Shanté, Run DMC, John Forté, will.i.am, MC Lyte, B-Real (Cypress Hill), Melle Mel, Fat Joe, Lupe Fiasco and more.

“The hip hop community has, from the start, been doing what the rest of media is only now catching up to,” said Chuck D of the importance of the project at the time. “Long before any conglomerate realized it was time to wake up, hip hop had been speaking out and telling truths. Working with PBS and BBC is an opportunity to deliver these messages through new ways and help explain hip hop’s place in history and hopefully inspire us all to take it further.”

Boula added, “People are finally open to hearing and learning about the history of all Americans, and we want to deliver authentic, compelling and truthful stories to them.”