Will Smith may have gotten a little .... combative, shall we say, with a reporter on the red carpet last week after said journalist planted one on the "Men in Black III" actor.

Smith explained what happened on David Letterman's "Late Show" Tuesday night, explaining that he was in the midst of an interview in Moscow when the journalist asked for a hug.

"He said, 'I'm your biggest fan, can I have a hug, please,'" Smith recalled. "So I leaned in to give this joker a hug, and he like, leaned in to kiss me. It's just awkward, Dave."

Awkward it was, as the world's now seen the video that shows Smith giving said reporter/loving fan what appears to be a slap in the face.

On the red carpet that day, "They were like 'Oh, no, we're sorry, you know, it's just his schtick,'" Smith said, adding, "And that's why his a** got schtuck."

Well, at least now the star can laugh about it.