The Education Secretary said Will Smith was a talented actor and that he felt the Hollywood star had shown regret for striking comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars ceremony.
Smith took to the stage and hit Chris Rock after Rock made a joke about wife Jada Pinkett Smith's hair loss.
Nadhim Zahawi, asked how he would explain the incident to children if he was a teacher, told BBC Breakfast: “I would say, don’t do it.
“You could see Will Smith – and my heart was broken when I saw him, that tearful apology, he apologised immediately.
“It was hard for him because it was someone who made a joke about his wife and her illness. That’s not easy but he regretted it and he apologised immediately.
“It is heart-breaking when you lose control of your emotions in that way, but I think it is important not to allow yourself to cross that line, and he apologised immediately, which is good to see.
“A very talented man, his first Oscar in a fantastic film, King Richard… it is a brilliant film of aspiration for that family, but my heart went out to Will Smith and his family.”
