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Smith spoke to Trevor Noah on The Daily Show about the incident.

Back in March of this year, prolific actor Will Smith became a controversial (and memetic) figure at the 2022 Oscars when he slapped host Chris Rock for joking about his wife’s medical condition. Since then, Smith has expressed regret for the incident, accepting whatever punishment the Academy decides to mete onto him.

In an interview with Trevor Noah on The Daily Show this week, Smith opened up about the incident and what set him off. “I was going through something that night, you know?

“Not that that justifies my behavior at all,” Smith said, adding that there were “many nuances and complexities to it”, and that “I just – I lost it.”

“I understand how shocking that was for people,” he told Noah. “I was gone. That was a rage that had been bottled for a really long time

Smith particularly remembered talking to his nine-year-old nephew after coming home from the Oscars. “He’s the sweetest little boy,” Smith said. “We came home and he had stayed up late to see his Uncle Will, and we’re sitting in my kitchen, and he’s on my lap and he’s holding the Oscar, and he’s just like, ‘Why did you hit that man, Uncle Will?’

Turning to the live studio audience, Smith spoke solemnly. “In the audience right now, you’re sitting next to strangers, and somebody’s mother died last week. You know? Somebody’s child is sick. Somebody just lost their job. Somebody just found out their spouse cheated.

Will Smith says he “completely” respects if audiences aren’t ready to see him in his upcoming film #Emancipation: https://t.co/NQijDA1768 pic.twitter.com/KwocBgGLJQ

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) November 28, 2022

“There’s all these things, and you just don’t know what’s going on with people. And I was going through something that night.”

“Trust me, there’s nobody that hates the fact that I’m human more than me… I’ve always wanted to be Superman. I’ve always wanted to swoop in and save the damsel in distress.

“And I had to humble down and realize that I’m a flawed human, and I still have an opportunity to go out in the world and contribute in a way that fills my heart and hopefully helps other people.”