After slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars, Will Smith claims he "reached out" to him, but the comic has stated he is "not ready to chat."

After the comedian made a joke about Smith's wife at the Academy Awards in March, the actor smacked Rock on stage.

Smith renewed his apology in a video that he published on Friday in which he reflected on the slap. This was the first time Smith had been seen talking about the incident.

"I apologize to Chris. My actions were unacceptable "said he. I'm available whenever you want to talk.

Smith has previously only issued written statements about the altercation. In the video, on his own YouTube channel, he answers questions that appear to be written by fans.

He reads out out the questions himself, addressing the camera directly.

source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Smith smacked Rock after the comic made a joke about the actor's wife Jada

"I spent the last three months replaying and understanding the nuances and the complexities of what happened in that moment," the actor said.

"I wasn't thinking about how many people got hurt in that moment... There is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment."

Smith explained: "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."

Figure caption, He also said his wife Jada Pinkett Smith did not ask him to do something to defend her after Rock made the joke. "Jada had nothing to do with it," Smith said.

"I want to say sorry to my kids and my family for the heat that I brought on all of us."

Rock had taken aim at Pinkett Smith's shaved head, a result of the hair-loss condition alopecia.

Pinkett Smith spoke last month saying it was her "deepest hope" that her husband and Rock could "reconcile" after the incident.

She had previously posted on her social media after the slap that it was a "season for healing".

source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith at the Vanity Fair Oscars party

Smith also apologised to his fellow nominees at the Oscars ceremony.

"Knowing that this is a community, it's almost as though your votes helped me win.

I feel so terrible for having taken advantage of you and marred your moment."

Smith earned his first Oscar for his performance in King Richard, a movie about the father of Serena and Venus Williams, after the incident on stage.

Smith has been prohibited from attending Academy functions for the next 10 years as a result of what the Oscars have called his "unacceptable and damaging behavior" on stage.

It was stated that following the slap, Smith was asked to leave the award ceremony, but he refused. A producer later clarified that Rock himself had not intended for Smith to be expelled violently or taken into custody by the police.

Source:The Independent Ghana