The Ukranian reporter, who got slapped by Will Smith, has made a public apology for trying to kiss the actor on the red carpet.

Vitalii Sediuk made headlines across the globe last week when he attempted to land a smooch on the Men in Black 3 star's lips at the film's Moscow premiere.

A shocked Smith then lost his cool and shoved Sediuk away before giving him a light back-handed slap across the face.

Sediuk explained his actions and expressed his regret over the incident in an exclusive interview with HipHollywood.com.

He told the celebrity site: "I'm sorry, Will. It was a splash of emotion. I do apologise for my behaviour. I think it was too much. Now I understand that it was too much.

"Will Smith is a person who I deeply respect as an actor. When I met him in Moscow, I wanted to do something to impress him.

"We have a Slavic tradition. I don't kiss every man or woman when I see them in the street, but that time I decided to do that. Next time, if I meet him, I'll just shake his hand."

Despite being known for his impromptu, affectionate behaviour towards celebrities, Sediuk insisted that he was not trying to kiss Smith on the lips.

"I tried to kiss him on the cheek and he moved his face too fast, then it turned out as if I wanted to kiss him on the lips," he told HipHollywood.com.

Just days ago Smith opened up to U.S. TV host David Letterman about the ambush and confirmed that he was not too pleased about the incident.

He told Letterman: "We're doing an interview and he says, 'I'm you're biggest fan, can I have a hug?' So I go to give this joker a hug, and he tries to lean in and kiss me! It's just awkward. They were saying, 'We're sorry, that's just his schtick'. Well that's why his a** got schtuck."