Will Smith’s Oscars Slap Was ‘Fake,’ Says Former NBA Star Gilbert Arenas

Will Smith shocked the world during the Oscars back in March when he stormed the stage and slapped comedian Chris Rock, who had just made a joke about the actor’s wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith.

Now, the former NBA star Gilbert Arenas is speaking out to give his thoughts on the slap that was heard around the world, and what he had to say may surprise you.

Was Oscars Slap Staged? 

When asked what he thought when he saw the slap, Arenas bluntly replied, “Fake.”

“I still think it’s fake,” he continued, according to Essentially Sports. “One you’re talking about two guys who were close. They are black comedians. They grew up in the same era. They’ve known how Hollywood is. I mean Chris Rock has been on the, you know, on the fresh prince and stuff like that.”

Related: Will And Jada Pinkett Smith May Be Heading For ‘Ugliest’ Divorce After Oscars Slap, Sources Allege

Arenas, who was a three-time NBA All-Star during a career in which he played for multiple teams, proceeded to double down in explaining why he believes this slap was staged. 

“Yeah so Chris Rock has done jokes before. Will Smith has heard worse about his family and it never, never bothers him. never!” he added. “Like for a guy who’s heard everything from Tupac’s uh whatever… Nothing. Because he’s ultimate alpha, like he seems secure with himself, just who he is as a man.”

Check out Arenas’ full comments on this below.

This also comes as a clip circulates online implying that Smith’s Oscars slap was copied from an old movie. We can tell you that this rumor is false and that the clip in question is actually from a short YouTube skit that was made after the 2022 Oscars. 

Check out the clip for yourself below. 

Slap Backfired On Smith If It Was Indeed ‘Fake’

Smith slapped Rock after the comedian made a joke comparing his wife Jada, who is bald, to the character “G.I. Jane.” This reportedly didn’t sit well with Smith because Jada suffers from alopecia, a condition that has made her lose her hair.

If the slap was staged, as Arenas believes it was, it’s safe to say that it has completely backfired on Smith in a big way. Seemingly all of his upcoming projects in Hollywood have been put on hold, and he’s been banned from all Academy events, including the Oscars, for the next decade.

It remains unclear if Smith’s career will be able to recover from this slap, or if he will be “canceled” for it permanently. 

Related: Surprising Will Smith Video Surfaces After Oscars Slap Scandal – He Warns Jada ‘Don’t Use Me’

Smith Laying Low Since Slap

Since the slap, Smith has been laying low, with sources close to him saying that he has been going to therapy to deal with what led him to act out in that way. He also resurfaced at one point in India, but it’s unclear what exactly he was doing there. 

Meanwhile, Rock has returned to his standup comedy tour, although he has not said much about the slap during his performances. Arenas’ theory about this Oscars scandal is an interesting one, and it will certainly be interesting to see if any evidence comes out in the future to back it up.