(CNN) — Chris Rock hasn’t said how he feels after being slapped by Will Smith, but he’s still making jokes about the incident.
The comedian was on stage in Atlanta on Friday night as part of his “Chris Rock Ego Death World Tour,” hours after Smith posted a nearly six-minute video saying he is “deeply sorry” for slapping Rock. during the Academy Awards in March.
Rock has made subtle references to the slap during comedy shows in the months since, but hasn’t publicly addressed the subject in depth. He took the same approach during his performance on Friday.
“Everyone is trying to be a fucking victim. If everyone claims to be a victim, then no one will listen to the real victims,” Rock said. “Even me getting beat up by Suge Smith… I went to work the next day, had kids.”
He later joked, “Anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face.”
Smith came onstage and punched Rock after he made a joke about the shaved head of Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who suffers from alopecia.
In the video published on his social media accounts, a solemn Smith begins with a message on the screen: “In the last few months, I have been thinking a lot and working a lot,” reads the text on the screen with which the video begins. . “You have asked a lot of fair questions that I wanted to take some time to answer,” he read.
Smith sighs, then offers his thoughts on an altercation that made headlines around the world and tarnished his image.
He explained why he didn’t apologize to Rock during his acceptance speech for winning the best actor award for his role in the film. King Richard.
“I was confused at the time. Everything was blurry,” he said.
Smith says he tried to reach Rock, who has indicated he’s not ready to talk and will get back to him when he is.
“Then I’ll tell you Chris, I apologize. My behavior was unacceptable and I’m here when you’re ready to talk.”
Smith also apologized to Rock’s mother, family and brother, Tony Rock, who starred in the 2007 sitcom All of Uswhich was created by Will Smith and his wife Jada Pinkett.
“I didn’t think about how many people I hurt at the time,” he added. “We had a great relationship,” Smith said of Rock’s brother. “Tony Rock was someone close and this is probably irreparable.”
Will Smith and Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars.
Smith also apologized to his wife, children and fellow Academy Award nominees.
“Letting people down is my core trauma,” he says. “I hate when I let people down so it hurts.”
Smith addressed a message to his followers, saying he is committed “to putting light, love and joy into the world.”
“If you hold on, I promise we can be friends again,” he concludes.
The Academy has sanctioned Smith by banning him from attending the Oscars for the next 10 years. Smith also issued an apology on Instagram in March, calling her behavior “unacceptable and inexcusable.”
CNN’s Lisa France and Chloe Melas contributed to this report.
