Will Smith stated he gave himself permission at 50 to "do no matter" he needed to do in an interview with GQ from 2021.

The profile piece got here out final September, however it has resurfaced after Smith slapped Chris Rock finally week's Oscars.

Presenter and comic Chris Rock made a joke about Smith's spouse, Jada Pinkett Smith, and her quick haircut, which is as a result of medical situation alopecia. Smith bought up on stage and slapped Rock, and when he sat down, Smith shouted, "Maintain my spouse's title out your f**king mouth."

The altercation has triggered widespread debate, as many have condemned Smith's actions and praised Rock's conduct following the slap.

The piece from GQ, titled "Introducing the Actual Will Smith" by Wesley Lowery, particulars issues about Smith's profession and residential life, together with his memoir, which got here out final November, and his position within the movie King Richard, which received Smith the Academy Award after the incident with Rock.

Within the article, Smith stated he obtained sound recommendation from his good friend, Denzel Washington, who instructed him to "bear together with your 40s" and "wait until you hit the f**k-it 50s."

"And that is precisely what occurred," Smith instructed Lowery. "It simply turned the f**k-it 50s, and I gave myself the liberty to do no matter I needed to do."

Because the incident on the Oscars, Smith has issued an apology on social media, saying, "My conduct finally night time's Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are part of the job, however a joke about Jada's medical situation was an excessive amount of for me to bear and I reacted emotionally."

"I want to publicly apologize to you, Chris," Smith wrote. "I used to be out of line and I used to be mistaken. I'm embarrassed and my actions weren't indicative of the person I wish to be."

94th Annual Academy Awards - Show
Will Smith instructed GQ in an interview final yr that he gave himself permission to "do no matter" he needed to do when he turned 50. On this photograph, Will Smith accepts the Actor in a Main Position award for "King Richard" onstage through the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022, in Hollywood, California.Neilson Barnard/Getty Photographs

Final week, the Academy introduced that Smith was requested to go away the Oscars, and whereas sources claimed that he was not, the Academy acknowledged, "Issues unfolded in a method we couldn't have anticipated. Whereas we want to make clear that Mr. Smith was requested to go away the ceremony and refused, we additionally acknowledge we may have dealt with the state of affairs otherwise."

On Friday, Smith introduced he was resigning from the Academy of Movement Image Arts and Sciences, saying in a press release, "I'll absolutely settle for any and all penalties for my conduct. My actions on the 94th Academy Awards presentation have been surprising, painful, and inexcusable."

After his resignation, the Academy determined that the scheduled listening to to resolve on potential penalties in opposition to Smith was moved from April 18 to April 8. Academy president David Rubin stated in a letter obtained by CNN that as a result of Smith had resigned, "suspension or expulsion are now not a chance and the legally prescribed timetable now not applies."

Newsweek has reached out to Smith's consultant for additional remark.