Oscars: Will Smith Slaps Comedian Chris Rock for bad joke about his wife
Sunday night’s motion picture Academy Awards ceremony ended on a high note, with guests and audience commenting on a physical altercation that ensued between Comedian, Chris Rock, and Oscar Winner, Will Smith.
The unprecedented physical altercation upstaged the final half hour of the show and will go down as one of the most memorable moments in Oscar history.
The surreal confrontation was sparked when Smith, a best-actor nominee, took umbrage at Rock for making a crack about his wife’s closely shaven hair as the comedian was about to present the award for best documentary.
Smith suddenly strode onto the stage and slapped Rock hard across the face with his open hand. The actor then turned and took his seat again beside his spouse, actress Jada Pinkett Smith, who suffers from a hair loss condition called alopecia.
Rock had his hands behind his back when Smith threw an open hand at his face that produced an audible smack, and in a form befitting an action movie star. Rock somehow stayed on his feet.
In Pictures: Moment Will Smith Slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars
Will Smith hits at Chris Rock as Rock spoke on stage during the 94th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 27, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder
The audio from the show, broadcast on a time-delay of a few seconds in the United States, appeared to have been cut from the live transmission for many viewers because of the language. But it was audible in some broadcasts, for example in Japan and Australia.
Smith then repeatedly shouted a vulgarity at Rock in defense of his wife.
Rock, visibly stunned but maintaining his composure, acknowledged he had just been smacked by Smith and jokingly said the incident made for the “greatest night in the history of television.
Seeking to lighten the mood moments later, co-host Amy Schumer, emerged back on stage from a previous gag to feign ignorance of the whole affair: “Did I miss anything? There seems to be a different vibe in here.”
Veteran actor Anthony Hopkins made mention of the episode before presenting the best-actress award, saying, “Well, what an evening,” adding, “Will Smith said it all.”
Smith had more to say as he took the stage again as winner of the best-actor award for portraying Richard Williams, the father and coach of tennis greats Venus and Serena Williams in the biopic “King Richard.”
A tearful Smith apologised to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and fellow nominees during his acceptance speech, in which he started off saying, “Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family.”
”I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people,” he added, cleaning tears from his eyes.
“I know we do what we do… you got to be able to take abuse, you gotta be able to have people talk crazy about you and you gotta smile and gotta pretend like that’s okay…
“I wanna apologise to the Academy, I wanna apologise to all my fellow nominees, uhm, but love will make you do crazy things. Thank you hope the Academy invites me back. Thank you,” he concluded to a rousing standing ovation.
This year’s Academy Award ceremony was hosted by three females, a first in its history.
Reuters/Hauwa Abu
