Actor Terry Crews doesn't think Will Smith's Oscars punishment "fits the crime" - and says he has done far worse in his life without such repercussions.
The Brooklyn Nine-Nine star praised Chris Rock for keeping his composure after the shocking Oscars altercation.
But he hinted that the reaction to the on-stage slap last month was over the top.
Hollywood icon Will was widely condemned for his action and he went on to make an emotional apology but it wasn't enough and the Academy made the decision to ban him for ten years.
But 53-year-old Terry - a close friend of both Chris and Will - said the fall out to what happened was "overkill".
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the American said: “Both Will Smith and Chris Rock are dear, dear friends of mine - I love them both as brothers, but there was a time in my life where I was Will Smith at that moment and let me tell you I’ve done worse than Will.
“Like people were like, ‘What in the world are you doing?’ My wife even had to be like, ‘You got to promise me you will never go off like this. You did not need to pick this man up and put him on his head, on the concrete."
"(It was) overkill, the punishment did not fit the crime. I’m very thankful to Chris, but also I understand Will. I’m not [one] to demonise Will at all because I was there.”
The comedian was stunned after King Richard actor Will walked up on stage and struck him across the face for making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
Will, who won an Oscar for his performance as tenner stars Serena and Venus Williams' dad, has been allowed to keep his award.
After the news of Will's ban was made public, Will declared: "I accept and respect the Academy’s decision."
Chris recently joked that he 'got his hearing back' after getting slapped last month.
According to the local newspaper, the Desert Sun, Chris made light of the situation during a performance at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in California.
"I'm OK, I have a whole show and I'm not talking about that until I get paid," he told the crowd.
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct at 0207 29 33033.
