Denzel Washington Comments On Will Smith-Chris Rock Altercation, Says 'Only Solution Was Prayer'

Acclaimed actor Denzel Washington has now publicly spoken regarding the infamous incident at the 94th Academy Awards, where Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock.

Washington was seen comforting Smith at the Oscars following Rock’s joke about the actor's wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

“Fortunately there were people there,” the “Training Day” actor said, as reported by Variety. “Who are we to condemn? I don’t know all the ins and outs of the situation, but I know the only solution was prayer, the way I see it.”

Earlier this week, Will Smith publicly apologized in an Instagram post to the Academy and Chris Rock for his actions, describing his own behavior as “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,” the actor wrote. “There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness. “

On Friday, Smith relinquished his Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences membership.

"I am resigning from membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and will accept any further consequences the Board deems appropriate," Smith said in a statement, as reported by CNN. "Change takes time and I am committed to doing the work to ensure that I never again allow violence to overtake reason."

Chris Rock addressed the incident at his first comedy show since the slap. “I’m still kind of processing what happened,” he said. “So, at some point, I’ll talk about that [Expletive]. And it will be serious and funny.”