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Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
Entertainment
Nardine Saad

Will Smith says 'bottled' rage led to Oscars slap: 'Hurt people hurt people'

Will Smith knows that his "horrific decision" to slap Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards casts a long shadow on his upcoming projects and appeared on "The Daily Show" on Monday to unpack his latest mea culpa.

While promoting his starring role in Antoine Fuqua's upcoming film "Emancipation," the 54-year-old actor sat down with host Trevor Noah for a 21-minute interview in which he addressed the infamous incident and its still-unfolding aftermath. The Oscar winner got an unprecedented 10-year ban from the Academy Awards.

The "King Richard" star found himself in sympathetic company with the outgoing host — who also alluded to the incident when hosting the Grammy Awards. They dissected what led Smith to storm the stage at the Dolby Theatre to slap Rock after the comedian made a dig about Jada Pinkett Smith's hair loss.

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