Will Smith: My behaviour at the Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable 

At the recently conducted Oscars ceremony, more than the wins, the upsets, the snubs, and the surprises, it was the spat between Will Smith and Chris Rock that made the headlines. 

Actor Will Smith, who won the Best Actor Oscar for his work in King Richard, hit Chris Rock in front of a live audience when the latter was presenting an award. 

The incident happened after Smith was provoked by a joke Rock made on Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith, referring to her medical condition.

While Smith did acknowledge this incident in the acceptance speech and expressed an overarching apology to the Academy, and his fellow nominees, he didn't refer to Rock in it. 

However, Will Smith has now taken to his social media accounts to render a formal apology for what transpired at the Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre. 

He wrote, "Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behaviour at last night's Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada's medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.

I would like to publicly apologise to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness. I would also like to apologise to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologise to the Williams Family and my King Richard family. I deeply regret that my behaviour has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. 

I am a work in progress. 

Sincerely, Will"

Meanwhile, the Academy has announced a formal hearing into the matter and said it does not condone violence of any form. Earlier, Chris Rock had refused to press charges against Will Smith.