The slap heard ‘round the world. Will Smith surprised the star-studded audience — and anyone looking at at house — when he took to the phase and smacked Chris Rock throughout the face right after the comic produced a “joke” about Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair reduction at the 2022 Oscars on Sunday, March 27.
“Jada, I adore you,” the comic mentioned from the stage, quipping, “G.I. Jane 2, simply cannot wait to see it,” referring to the actress’ buzzed head, as G.I. Jane star Demi Moore wore a very similar design. (Pinkett Smith, 50, has normally been open about shedding her hair because of to alopecia.)
As the camera minimize to the Smiths, the King Richard star, 53 — who later on won the Oscar for very best actor — appeared to smile at Rock’s joke, even though Pinkett Smith intensely rolled her eyes. Even though it at first seemed that Smith was Ok with the quip, he promptly walked onstage and slapped the Longest Yard actor, 57, across the experience. After he returned to his seat, he yelled, “Keep my wife’s identify out of your f–king mouth.”
“Wow. Will Smith just smacked the s–t outta me,” Rock explained to the viewers ahead of returning to handing out the award for best documentary.
For his section, the Clean Prince of Bel-Air alum later on referenced — and apologized for — the altercation in his speech when accepting his Oscar for King Richard.
Will Smith and Chris Rock Rob Latour/Shutterstock
“Oh, gentleman. Richard Williams was a intense defender of his family members,” Smith reported, relating his actions to that of Serena and Venus Williams’ father, the position he played in the film. “I’m remaining named on in my life to like men and women and to secure folks and to be a river to my persons. I know to do what we do, you acquired to be ready to just take abuse. You acquired to be capable to have people communicate ridiculous about you. In this business enterprise you bought to be ready to have folks disrespecting you. And you bought to smile, you bought to faux like that is Alright.”
The 7 Lbs . actor also apologized to quite a few persons for his actions — even though not explicitly to Rock.
“I want to apologize to the academy. I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees,” he additional. “Art imitates life: I look like the insane father. Just like they claimed about Richard Williams. But adore will make you do mad points.”
He later apologized specifically to the presenter the following day in a prolonged assertion. “I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris,” Smith wrote by way of Instagram on March 28. “I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my steps have been not indicative of the guy I want to be. There is no position for violence in a world of really like and kindness.”
Stars who have been the two in attendance and viewing at property experienced a ton to say about the drama — from Rock’s “joke” to Smith’s slap. Scroll beneath to see how celebrities reacted to the incident:
