No one will remember the winners from this year’s Oscars. All everyone is talking about is the moment when Will Smith walked on stage to quote “smack the Sh*t” out of comedian Chris Rock.
The incident went down as Chris Rock was presenting the award. Rock, a former Oscar host, went through the nominees and joked with them all, including Javier Bardem and wife Penelope Cruz, nominated for acting Oscars.
Here's the moment Chris Rock made a "G.I. Jane 2" joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, prompting Will Smith to punch him and yell, "Leave my wife’s name out of your f–king mouth." #Oscars pic.twitter.com/kHTZXI6kuL
— Variety (@Variety) March 28, 2022
Then Rock goes to Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith. Noting Jada’s shaved head, Chris Rock joked that he was excited for her to star in “GI Jane 2.” Pinkett-Smith can be seen visible rolling her eyes while her husband laughs uncomfortably.
Then the camera cuts to Will Smith approaching Chris Rock on the stage and slapping him across the face. What made this even crazier was Will Smith won the Oscar for Best Actor!
Actor Will Smith appeared to strike presenter Chris Rock in the face on the Oscars stage after a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith https://t.co/g5g6p2pR9J
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) March 28, 2022
Some viewers caught a censored version of the incident where the sound cut from the feed. But in this uncensored version, you can hear Will Smith screaming at Rock to “keep my wife’s name out of your f**king mouth!”
Rock appeared flabbergasted and seemed to resist an urge to hit another joke, and then continued with the presentation.
Related: Chris Rock Slams Cancel Culture, Says ‘People Are Scared To Talk’“
Watch The Uncut Moment Below
(Strong language warning.)
Uncensored video of what just happened between Will Smith and Chris Rock at the #Oscars pic.twitter.com/J1sHYL0uQj
— This Is What’s Trending Now (@TrendingThisIs) March 28, 2022
The Internet’s Reaction
Of course, Twitter went about as bonkers as Will Smith did.
oscars continuing and I’m still trying to process what just happened pic.twitter.com/sqhDXOJyUM
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) March 28, 2022
OOOOOHHHH SHIIIIITTTT WHAT JUST HAPPENED #Oscars pic.twitter.com/WvCc7W6JGt
— Cyndi H. (@Cyn_Harris1) March 28, 2022
A lot of people were wondering if the incident was planned.
All of us coming to twitter to confirm if that Will and Chris thing was real, what just happened pic.twitter.com/DXyh15ChUx
— cesar (@jebaiting) March 28, 2022
Pinkett-Smith had discussed her struggle with hair loss and alopecia, and perhaps that’s what ticked Smith off.
Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith being in “G.I. Jane” because of her bald head. She’s spoken openly about having a hair loss condition. Will Smith ran on stage, slapped Rock, then screamed twice at the top of his lungs “KEEP MY WIFE’S NAME OUT OF YOUR F-NG MOUTH.”
— Amy Kaufman (@AmyKinLA) March 28, 2022
will smith making everyone forget what just happened when he goes on stage to accept his oscar in a few minutes #Oscars pic.twitter.com/ClyX4bIazI
— Not_Paul_George (@Prinz__JFC) March 28, 2022
Phew. That was not a bit. Chris Rock really held it together. I just. Wow.
— roxane gay (@rgay) March 28, 2022
Chris Rock’s close friend David Spade seemed as perplexed as the rest of us.
A GI Jane joke???
— David Spade (@DavidSpade) March 28, 2022
And to add to all of this, Will Smith WON the Oscar for Best Actor!
Will Smith went on to win the best actor #Oscar for #KingRichard. He thanked the Williams family and noted how he is being called to be a protector for people he loves in his life
— Anika Reed (@heyitsanika) March 28, 2022
“I want to apologize to The Academy, I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees” Will Smith at the #Oscars pic.twitter.com/dXh4FdGRoL
— MovieRankings.net (@LightsCameraPod) March 28, 2022
Will Smith saying he wants to be a vessel of love 20 minutes after he slaps Chris Rock is an all time move.
— Jordan Kincannon (@Kincannon01) March 28, 2022
“Love will make you do crazy things.” Will Smith has won the Oscar for Best Actor. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/c6mRkS5olu
— E! News (@enews) March 28, 2022
Was The Will Smith – Chris Rock Slap Staged?
Before seeing it, I assumed it had to be staged when I first saw it happen. Will Smith seemed very upset, but he’s also one of the best actors. Chris Rock is not that good of an actor, and his stupefied look of bewilderment told me it was 100% real.
Smith and his wife have had some very public ups and downs over the last few years. Jada admitted to Will on her talk show that she had an affair, and the crestfallen Smith’s face became a meme.
I understand entirely why Smith acted the way he did. However, Chris Rock is a comedian. He makes jokes. No one deserves to be assaulted over a joke.
Share your thoughts on this crazy moment in the comment section below.