Actor Denzel Washington on Saturday spoke out for the first time about Will Smith striking comedian Chris Rock on stage at the Oscars, saying: For whatever reason, the devil got ahold of him that night.

Smith strode on stage Oscar night and struck Rock after the comedian joked about his wifes shaved head. Jada Pinkett Smith shaved her hair last year after speaking publicly about having alopecia, which causes thinning hair and balding. Keep my wifes name out your fucking mouth, Smith yelled at Rock twice from the audience.

Washington quickly approached Smith during a hastily arranged commercial break after the slap, and they prayed together, he told Pastor T.D. Jakes in an interview on stage at Jakes International Leadership Summit in Charlotte. A video of the interview was streamed on The Wrap .

Washington declined to reveal what else the men talked about.

I dont want to say what we talked about, but there but for the grace of God go any of us, said the actor. Who are we to condemn? I dont know all the ins and outs of this situation, but I know the only solution was prayer.

Theres a saying when the devil ignores you, then you know youre doing something wrong, Washington said at Jakes. The devil goes, Oh no leave him alone, hes my favorite.

But conversely, when the devil comes at you, maybe its because [Smith] is trying to do something right. And for whatever reason, the devil got ahold of him that night, Washington noted.

Smith referred to Washingtons words just a short time later when he accepted his Oscar for Best Actor in King Richard, a film about Richard Williams and his tennis star daughters, Serena and Venus.

Denzel said to me a few minutes ago. At your highest moment, be careful . Thats when the devil comes for you, Smith said.

While he apologized to the academy but not to Rock as he accepted the award, Smith also appeared to defend his actions, saying that love will make you do crazy things . He also pointedly hailed Richard Williams as a fierce defender of his family.

Smith has since publicly apologized to Rock, and on Friday announced he would resign his membership in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for his inexcusable behavior .

Famed Spanish film director Pedro Almodvar earlier this week harshly criticized Smiths evocation of the devil as an explanation for his violence when he accepted his award. Almodvar, who watched from the audience, said it sounded like something from a cult leader or a fundamentalist.

You dont defend or protect the family with your fists, and no, the devil doesnt take advantage of key moments to do his work, Almodvar wrote in Indiewire. The devil, in fact, doesnt exist .