Will Smith has apologised to Chris Rock over his now-infamous Oscars slap in his first public statement in some three months.
Smith took to the stage at the 94th Academy Awards and slapped Rock after the comedian made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's short haircut. Pinkett Smith has alopecia.
In a video posted on Instagram on Friday, Smith spoke directly to the camera and answered a series of questions.
Asked why he did not apologise to Rock during his Best Actor acceptance speech in March, he said: "I was fogged out by that point. It's all fuzzy.
"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. So 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 also apologised to Rock's mother and family, adding: "I spent the last three months replaying and understanding the nuances and complexities of what happened in that moment.
"And I'm not going to try and 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 or insults."
The incident at the Oscars resulted in widespread criticism of Smith.
He subsequently resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and was later banned from attending all Academy events for the next 10 years.
Source: Press Association
