NEW YORK: Will Smith has again apologized to Chris Rock for slapping him during the Oscar telecast in a new video, saying that his behavior was “unacceptable”.
He said he had reached out to the comedian to discuss the incident but was told Rock wasn’t ready.
“There is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment,” Smith said in the under-six minute video posted online Friday. “I am deeply remorseful and I’m trying to be remorseful without being ashamed of myself.” To Rock, he said: “I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.”
Smith, seated in a polo shirt and white ball cap, spoke directly to a camera, answering pre-selected questions about his behavior at the March 27 Academy Awards, when he slapped presenter Rock after the comedian made a reference about the hairstyle of Jada Pinkett Smith, Smith’s wife.
Smith also apologized to Rock’s family and especially his mother, Rosalie, who was horrified to see her son hurt and told US Weekly that, “When he slapped Chris, he slapped all of us. He really slapped me.” Smith also apologized to Tony Rock, Chris’ younger brother.
“I didn’t realize how many people got hurt in that moment,” Smith said.
Smith also apologized to his family “for the heat that I brought on all of us” and his fellow Oscar nominees to have “stolen and tarnished your moment.” He mentioned Questlove by name; it was the musician-director’s documentary win for “Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)” that was interrupted by the slap. Rock was on stage to present the documentary award.
Smith also said his wife did nothing to encourage his slap. “Jada had nothing to do with it,” he said. “I made a choice on my own.” Pinkett Smith has said that she has alopecia areata, a hair-loss disorder.
Following the altercation, the motion picture academy banned Smith from attending the Oscars or any other academy event for 10 years. Smith apologized to Rock in a statement after the Oscars, saying he was “out of line and I was wrong.”
“I’m sorry really isn’t sufficient,” Smith said in the video, adding that he is hurting because he hasn’t lived up to fans’ impressions. “Disappointing people is my central trauma.”
Many had speculated that Smith would appear on camera to discuss the slap first on Pinkett Smith’s online series “Red Table Talk,” but he chose to do it in a social media video post without any follow-up questions or surprise queries.
Will Smith posts an apology video for slapping Chris Rock
https://arab.news/gu8nc
Will Smith posts an apology video for slapping Chris Rock
- Smith had reached out to the comedian to discuss the incident but was told Rock wasn't ready
- “There is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment,” Smith said in the under-six minute video
Where we are going today: An early look inside Six Flags Qiddiya City
- Kingdom’s largest amusement park with world record rides
- Incredible experience to visit before its opening on Dec. 31
RIYADH: Six Flags Qiddiya City opened its doors to a select number of visitors for its soft opening earlier this month before its official opening on Dec. 31, and the experience was incredible.
Six Flags is one part of Qiddiya City, the upcoming hub for entertainment, sports and innovation located an hour’s drive from Riyadh.
The city is the largest amusement park in the Kingdom with a world record five rollercoasters and rides.
Six Flags Qiddiya City’s beginnings track back to 2021 when Qiddiya Investment Co. signed a SR3.75 billion ($1 billion) contract to build the park.
The short journey on the bus to the entrance foreshadowed the unique experience we were in for: breathtaking mountains, chilling desert wind and peaks of rollercoaster trails all around and through a mountain.
The park is brightly lit with Saudi Arabia-themed architecture. Souvenir stops and small shops are all around in traditional Najdi-style buildings.
Past the entrance, the park splits into six areas: City of Thrills, Grand Exposition, Steam Town, Twilight Gardens, Discovery Springs and Valley of Fortune. Each of these features a mix of child-friendly rides and large rollercoasters for thrill seekers.
As an adrenaline junkie myself, I was excited to kick off the night in City of Thrills, where the theme was rather futuristic.
City of Thrills features two of the park’s iconic and record-breaking rides: Falcon’s Flight and Sirocco Tower.
Falcon’s Flight is the world’s longest, fastest and tallest rollercoaster yet. Sirocco Tower is the highest drop-tower ride in the world, going up to an astonishing 145 meters.
While neither were open during the soft launch, I will definitely be revisiting the park to try both. To set the tone for my experience at City of Thrills, I chose Adrena-Line to start.
The ride is classified as a mid-level thrill, but the setup of a suspended rollercoaster really amplified the experience as my legs hung free and the trail took us upside-down.
I headed over to Grand Exposition, where the overall theme was past-meets-future. This area is particularly diverse in its rides and dining options.
One of the most notable rides is the Arabian Carousel, which features camels and Arab paintings.
Grand Exposition is a blend of history that has varying dining options including Taste of Asia and Fish & Chippery.
I could not leave without trying Colossus, an extreme-thrill wooden ride that left me speechless. Although it lacks upside-down twists, Colossus is perfect for those looking for speed and drops.
Steam Town was up next, which was especially exciting because it is home to the infamous Iron Rattler, a record-breaking rollercoaster.
I grabbed a hotdog from Steam Town Grill as I watched those on the Iron Rattler scream as they reached the tilt at the end before dropping.
Steam Town has a lot of shopping options, from ride-inspired souvenirs to toys. Although not yet open for visitors to shop, the merchandise was enjoyable to see.
Twilight Gardens and Discovery Springs have dazzling themes. Twilight Gardens is a lovely experience for kids as the land is decorated with glittering and neon-lit artificial plants and flowers.
It features a soft rollercoaster called Twilight Thrill that is lady-bug themed for kids to enjoy. Discovery Springs is where to go for a quick splash and thrill.
Although rides such as Zoomafloma were closed until the official opening day, Discovery Springs is definitely the land for water-ride fans.
Home to Spitfire, another record-breaking rollercoaster in Valley of Fortune was a great way to wrap up my visit.
This final land offers a treasure hunt experience with a jungle-like theme and matching dining and souvenir stops, which is a great balance for both adult thrill-seekers and kids.
Overall, the park’s carefully curated themes, ambitious rides and unique location offer an experience unlike any other that I have experienced across the world.
There is something special about seeing the highest coaster drops stand tall in the desert landscape.
