Will Smith and Chris Rock will soon become ‘very good friends’ again, claims actress Bai Ling
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Will Smith and Chris Rock will mend fences and have a good relationship in the near future, according to Chinese-American actress Bai Ling, who worked with the 54-year-old actor in ‘Wild Wild West’. Ling also asserted that the ‘King Richard’ star is working towards becoming a "better person" after the 94th Academy Awards fiasco that saw him slapping Rock after he apparently made a joke about wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head.
The ‘Taxi 3’ actress told The Sun, “People make mistakes. The mistake he made was not good. It needs to be recognized and changed. We all fall, but it is time to get up. We rethink and become more enlightened. When he comes back, he will be a much better person. He will have more power in humbleness and influence people. We have to forgive - we all have made mistakes.”
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After the March incident, Smith was also reportedly prohibited from attending the Academy Awards but Ling believes that is not such a big issue for him as she noted: “He still can do his movies. As long as he can work he is fine. That is his concern. Most successful actors, it is not about fame or getting Academy Awards, it's that they love what they do.”
Earlier, ‘The Pursuit of Happyness’ actor had apologized to Rock after the infamous episode by saying: “Chris, I apologize to you. My behavior was unacceptable and I'm here whenever you're ready to talk. There is no part of me that thinks that was the right way to behave in that moment. There's no part of me that thinks that's the optimal way to handle a feeling of disrespect or insults,” before adding, “I know it was confusing, I know it was shocking. But I promise you, I am deeply devoted and committed to putting light and love and joy into the world. And, you know, if you hang on, I promise we'll be able to be friends again.”
But the apology apparently failed to please the 57-year-old stand-up comedian. Ling, however, feels that it’s only a matter of time. She explained, “I think it was inappropriate that he went to the stage and he was probably shocked. I think, eventually, Chris and Will will become very good friends. It will take a little time. Mark my words. They will be. Will has a very pure heart and he really worked hard to treat his craft seriously and sincerely apologize. I guarantee he felt terribly. I think they will both understand one another.”
Ling’s remarks came after Smith revealed a few days ago that following the Slapgate incident, he went into a bit of a dark zone but Floyd Mayweather kept checking on him. During a screening of ‘Emancipation’ film, the father-of-three reportedly said: “I want to say something also about Floyd. So, we've met each other, we've seen each other around, but we weren't like, friends. And, the day after the Oscars, for 10 days he called me every day. And, he was like, 'Ay, you know you the champ, right? You good? You know you the champ, right? I want you to hear my voice say it.’ That was every day he called me ... and it's like, that's my dude forever right there.”