Will Smith still has not personally apologized to Chris Rock nearly one year after the infamous 2022 Oscars slap, a source tells Page Six.
Following the release of Rock’s searing Netflix special, “Selective Outrage” — in which he joked about watching Smith’s slavery movie “Emancipation” just to “see him get whooped” — the insider says it is even more unlikely the Hollywood heavyweights will ever make up.
“Will did call Chris last year after the Oscars, but Chris didn’t pick up. And they haven’t spoken since,” a source who knows both men tells Page Six exclusively.
“Chris was open for a call until Will made his public apologies, and then all of those ‘Red Table Talk’ discussions,” the insider continues, referring to Jada Pinkett Smith’s Facebook Watch show, on which she once shared her hope that her husband and his onetime friend could “reconcile.”
Smith, 54, has apologized for the incident twice via Instagram: in a written statement the day after the awards show in March 2022 and in an emotional video in July.
“Will’s two public apologies were all about saving his own reputation,” the source claims to us. “Will has not apologized to Chris Rock in person — and Chris isn’t expecting it.”
In fact, Rock, 58, is ready to move on now that he has said his piece in his live special.
“This was closure for Chris,” our source says. “He wanted to do that in a safe space.”
The insider also denies a recent People magazine report that claimed Rock chose to film his special in Baltimore because Pinkett Smith, 51, grew up there.
“[He] performed there five times last year, and he loves the audience,” the source explains.
“The choice of venue wasn’t because Chris has been obsessed with Jada ‘for 30 years,’ as it had been claimed. It is because he feels comfortable in the venue and audience.”
Reps for Smith and Rock did not return Page Six’s requests for comment.
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This isn’t the first time we’ve reported that Smith has not apologized to Rock one-on-one.
One month after Slapgate, a source called the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” alum “cynical and ridiculous” for going on a “spiritual tour” of India in the midst of the controversy.
“No amount of namastes will make up for that,” they quipped.
Smith, who won Best Actor for “King Richard” moments after hitting Rock onstage, resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in response to backlash he received.
The Academy subsequently banned the movie star from attending its events for 10 years.
“We want to express our deep gratitude to Mr. Rock for maintaining his composure under extraordinary circumstances,” the organization said in April 2022. “We also want to thank our hosts, nominees, presenters and winners for their poise and grace during our telecast.”
Smith issued a brief statement in response: “I accept and respect the Academy’s decision.”