Entertainment Movies Terry Crews Says Friend Chris Rock 'Saved Hollywood' by Keeping Composure After Will Smith Slap "I'm very thankful to Chris, but also I understand Will," Crews said of the pair, calling them both "dear, dear friends of mine" By Glenn Garner Glenn Garner Instagram Twitter Glenn Garner is a Writer/Reporter who works heavily with PEOPLE's Movies and TV verticals. Since graduating from Northern Arizona University with a dual major in journalism and photography, he got his professional start at OUT Magazine, The Advocate and Teen Vogue, and he's since consistently kept his finger on the pulse of the LGBTQ community. His first book The Guncle Guide was released in 2020 and was featured on Katie Couric's list of 100 recommended books of the year. People Editorial Guidelines Published on April 24, 2022 01:43 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: David Livingston/Getty; Amy Sussman/Getty; Al Seib /A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Terry Crews is not taking sides in the televised physical altercation between his pals Will Smith and Chris Rock at the 94th Academy Awards. The Emmy Award nominee, 53, had a diplomatic view of the instantly infamous incident, both praising Rock's composure in the moment and declining to "demonize" Smith as he spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about his upcoming memoir, Tough: My True Journey to Power. "Both Will Smith and Chris Rock are dear, dear friends of mine," he told the THR in the story published Friday. "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." "Way overkill, just … the punishment did not fit the crime. 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,' " Crews recounted. For more on Will Smith, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day. He went as far as to say that Rock, 57, "saved Hollywood" with his ability to keep his composure during the live broadcast after Smith, 53, smacked him across the face onstage. Chris Rock's Mom Reacts to Oscars Incident: 'When Will Smith Slapped Chris, He Slapped All of Us' Chris Rock and Will Smith at the Oscars on March 27, 2022. Robyn Beck/getty "When I look back, by what Chris did, by just deciding to hold everything together, it actually, I think in a lot of ways saved Hollywood," Crews explained to THR. "Because if there would've been a brawl on that stage, I don't know if Hollywood would've ever gotten any respect again, you know? It's hard to even imagine what would've happened." Crews continued to praise his former Everybody Hates Chris costar as he recalled his own upbringing in Flint, Michigan, where he said he found himself in both Smith and Rock's shoes on several occasions. "The definition of toughness where I grew up and the way I was, it was always the ability to strike, the ability to punch, the ability to set things straight, to even the score," he said. "But the true definition of toughness was what Chris did in taking a punch and then holding everything together and then showing tremendous endurance and resilience in the middle of obstacles." Paula Lobo/Walt Disney Television via Getty "I think it was a miracle what Chris did. I really do. I couldn't believe his poise in that moment. I thought, holy cow, we owe him a lot. I think every performer owes him so much because it just really saved Hollywood in that moment. I'm very thankful to Chris, but also I understand Will. I'm not [one] to demonize Will at all because I was there," Crews added. The America's Got Talent host opens up in Tough about dealing with his own distressing experiences, recalling the time he was allegedly groped by talent agent Adam Venit at a party in 2016. "I chose to be in control. I chose to hold everything together. It could have descended into chaos. It would've been the end of me," Crews said. (Venit has denied Crews' account and said his behavior wasn't "sexual.") RELATED VIDEO: Will Smith Banned from Oscars Ceremony for Next 10 Years After Chris Rock Slap, Academy Decides Crews is one of myriad Hollywood figures to weigh in on the controversial moment at the 94th Academy Awards last month when Smith smacked Rock across the face for making a joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and her shaved hair style. (Jada has spoken openly about living with alopecia.) "Jada, I love ya. G.I. Jane 2, can't wait to see ya," Rock said during the Oscars telecast before Will took the stage and hit him. "Keep my wife's name out your f------ mouth!" Will yelled up to the stage at Rock after taking his seat again. Will has since apologized to Rock and resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which banned him from the awards show for 10 years. He can still be nominated and win one of the coveted awards. Crews' memoir Tough: My Journey to True Power will be published on Tuesday.