Kevin Hart says Will Smith is now "in a better space" and is "apologetic" after the infamous Chris Rock slap at the Oscars.
Hart, who is friends with both actors, also urged fans to give Smith "the opportunity to grow".
“Will is apologetic, you know, he’s in a better space, of course, than what he was after," Hart told Entertainment Tonight while promoting his latest film DC League of Super-Pets.
"People are human and as humans sometimes we make mistakes. So it’s not about talking about the past, it’s about acknowledging the present and doing your best to move forward.”
In March, during the Oscars ceremony, Rock was presenting an award when he made a joke about the hair of Smith's wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith.
Smith stormed on stage and slapped Rock across the face before returning to his chair in the audience and screaming expletives at Rock, in what has been dubbed as the most shocking moment to ever come from the Oscars.
Smith, who went on to win the Best Actor Oscar that evening, has not spoken about the incident since he posted an Instagram apology.
He did however resign from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organises the Oscars, and was banned from attending any of their events for 10 years.
Many of Smith's film projects have also been put on hold following the slap.
Rock, too, has not addressed the incident, only saying he is “still processing” what happened during one of his stand-up shows a few days after the Oscars ceremony.
“I can get only hope that the two of them find a way to find some solace in that and move past it … I still love [Will], I still love Chris, and, you know, you can’t judge a person by one thing. Ultimately, life goes on and people grow, so give him the opportunity to do so," Hart said in his interview.
Both Hart and Smith were born in Philadelphia and Hart has often thanked him for paving the path for him in Hollywood.
Hart and Rock are old comedy friends and are set to go on their first stand-up tour together in the US. Called Rock Hart: Only Headliners Allowed, the tour begins in New York on July 21.
All the winners from the Oscars 2022 - in pictures
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From left, Emilia Jones, Daniel Durant, Sian Heder, Marlee Matlin, Eugenio Derbez, Fabrice Gianfermi, Patrick Wachsberger, Justin Maurer, Philippe Rousselet, Troy Kotsur and Amy Forsyth accept the Best Picture award for ‘Coda’ on stage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. AFP -
Will Smith accepts the Best Actor in a Leading Role award for ‘King Richard’ onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. AFP -
US actress Jessica Chastain poses with the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye' in the press room during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. AFP -
US singer-songwriter Finneas O'Connell, left, and US singer-songwriter Billie Eilish accept the award for Best Music (Original Song) for 'No Time to Die' onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. AFP -
Bryon Howard, from left, Clark Spencer, Yvett Merino, and Jared Bush, winners of the award for Best Animated Feature Film for 'Encanto', pose in the press room at the Oscar Awards event on Sunday, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. AP -
Riz Ahmed and Aneil Karia, winners of Best Live Action Short Film, pose in the press room during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland in Hollywood, California. Getty Images -
Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi, right, accepts the award for Best International Feature Film for 'Drive My Car' onstage during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. AFP -
Kenneth Branagh, winner of Best Original Screenplay for 'Belfast', poses in the press room at the Oscars, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. AP -
Troy Kotsur poses with his Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for 'Coda' in the press room during the 94th annual Academy Awards ceremony. EPA -
New Zealand Director Jane Campion poses with the Best Director award for 'The Power Of The Dog' in the press room. AFP -
Actress Ariana DeBose poses with her Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for 'West Side Story' in the press room during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. AFP -
Left to right, Joseph Patel, Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson, David Dinerstein, and Robert Fyvolent pose with their Oscar for Best Documentary Feature for 'Summer of Soul (. . . Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised),' in the press room during the 94th annual Academy Awards. EPA -
The makeup and hairstyling team for 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye' Linda Dowds, centre, Stephanie Ingram, left, and Justin Raleigh accepts the Best Makeup and Hairstyling Award at Oscars 2022. AFP -
Brian Connor, second from left, Paul Lambert, third from left, Gerd Nefzer, third from right, and Tristan Myles, second from right, winners of the Oscar for Best Visual Effects for 'Dune', pose with presenters Rachel Zegler, left, and Jacob Elordi, right, in the press room. EPA -
Spanish director and animator Alberto Mielgo, right, and Spanish producer Leo Sanchez show off their award for Best Animated Short Film for 'The Windshield Wiper' in the press room. AFP -
Canadian filmmaker Ben Proudfoot with his Oscar for Best Documentary Short Film for 'The Queen of Basketball'. EPA -
Greig Fraser, winner of the Oscar for Cinematography for ‘Dune’, poses in the press room during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland in Hollywood, California. AFP -
British costume designer Jenny Beavan accepts the Oscar for Best Costume Design for 'Cruella' during the 94th annual Academy Awards. EPA -
British film editor Joe Walker poses with the Best Film Editing award for 'Dune'. AFP -
Patrice Vermette, left, and Zsuzsanna Sipos, winners of the Academy Award for Production Design for 'Dune', pose with their Oscar trophies in the press room. EPA -
The sound team of 'Dune', from left, Doug Hemphill, Theo Green, Mark Mangini, Ron Barlett, and Mac Ruth in the press room during the 94th Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California. AFP
