Will Smith's Mom Addresses Slap Of Chris Rock At Oscars, Offers Advice To Son

Will Smith's mother, Carolyn Smith, is sharing her thoughts after witnessing her son slap Chris Rock on stage at the 94th Academy Awards.

During Sunday's ceremony, Smith took home his first Academy Award after winning best actor for his portrayal of Serena and Venus Williams' father Richard Williams in the biopic "King Richard." However, moments before his big win, the 53-year-old Hollywood star shocked the audience and viewers when he stormed the stage and smacked Rock across the face over the comedian's bald joke directed at his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.

While speaking to local station 6ABC Philadelphia following Smith's big night, the actor's mother admitted that she was "surprised" by her son's behavior.

"He is a very even, people person. That's the first time I've ever seen him go off. First time in his lifetime... I've never seen him do that," Carolyn told 6ABC.

Despite the incident, Smith's mother said she is "proud of him being him" and gushed over his best actor win.

"I know how he works, how hard he works...I've been waiting and waiting and waiting. When I heard the name, I was just, 'Yes!'" Carolyn recalled, sharing that Smith's extended family was cheering him on from their home in West Philadelphia during Sunday night's Oscars.

Smith's younger sister Ellen told the outlet she's watched him always excel under pressure and under the harsh Hollywood spotlight.

"People are like, 'Oh I wish I was in such and such's shoes and those are my goals,' but you really don't know what it takes to get there," Ellen said. "I've had conversations with him and it broke my heart listening to what he had to go through to get to where he is."

When asked what advice she would give her son following his Oscar win, Carolyn said, "Get some rest and go on vacation."

Smith did not immediately apologize to Rock during his emotional five-minute Oscar speech after receiving his Academy Award. He was later criticized after videos circulated of him partying at a Vanity Fair party later that night.

Smith issued a public apology to Rock on Instagram Monday, 24 hours after the event.

The "Ali" star admitted in his statement that he "reacted emotionally" after hearing the joke about his wife, who lives with alopecia, and called his actions "unacceptable and inexcusable."

"I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong," Smith wrote. "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."

A day after her husband posted his apology, Pinkett Smith broke her silence Tuesday by sharing a message about "healing" on Instagram.

"This is a season for healing and I'm here for it," her post read.