Will Smith appeared to slap or punch Chris Rock during the Oscars 2022 ceremony – what happened and was it real or staged? The 94th Academy Awards had largely been going according to plan, with few deviations from the script as Oscars 2022 awards went to the expected winners such as Dune and CODA. A variety of presenters came and went without much incident besides the usual level of Oscars gags, but that all changed when Chris Rock came on stage to present the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature.
Rock’s presentation started seemingly as normal as he began a scripted bit, with Smith himself even laughing along. When he made a reference to Jada Pinkett Smith is when things started to take a turn. Rock made a quip about Smith starring in G.I. Jane 2, saying: “Jada, I love you. GI Jane 2, can’t wait to see you.”
That was seemingly a joke too far, as Smith himself proceeded to walk up to the stage. Rock at first seemingly thought it was a joke, and the intent was initially unclear to viewers as well, but Smith then appeared to slap Rock, making contact with his face, before walking back to his seat. A visibly angry Smith continued to shout at Rock, who attempted to downplay the moment, protesting that it was a joke about G.I. Jane before then trying to move on. It was a confusing and shocking Oscars moment leading many to question what had really happened between Smith and Rock onstage.
Was Will Smith Hitting Chris Rock At The Oscars Real Or Staged?
Rather than a strange, staged and unscripted joke, Will Smith really did hit Chris Rock at the Oscars 2022. Rock himself was clearly shaken (though seemingly uninjured) by the encounter, quickly finishing up announcing the winner of Best Documentary Feature after first announcing that, “Will Smith just smacked the s**t out of me.” From the response of Rock and Smith, as well as others in attendance, then it became clear their altercation was a real, unscripted, and genuinely heated moment.
Why Did Will Smith Slap Chris Rock At The Oscars?
Chris Rock’s G.I. Jane joke was made at the expense of Jada Pinkett Smith, who appeared at the Oscars with a shaved head after hair loss in recent years. Pinkett Smith has been open about her alopecia diagnosis in the past few years, which has caused her hair to fall out, something Rock (perhaps unintentionally) mocked with his G.I. Jane comments. Pinkett Smith herself rolled her eyes at Rock’s joke and looked understandably annoyed by the comment, with Smith then seemingly responding to Rock making fun of that condition and Pinkett Smith’s struggle, although there is of course no justification for violence.
What Did Will Smith Say To Chris Rock At The Oscars?
Although the United States broadcast quickly muted so that Smith’s response wasn’t heard – but could be quite clearly lip-read – but international broadcasts didn’t censor it. At the Oscars 2022, Will Smith told Chris Rock to: “Keep my wife’s name out your f**king mouth,” which he then repeated for a second time, clearly very angry, before it cut back to Rock onstage and he continued on with the presentation. It was a surreal moment that seemingly no one knew how to react to- as per Scott Feinberg on Twitter, Smith was comforted by Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry during a commercial break. Smith later returned to the stage as he won the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in King Richard, giving a tearful speech about protecting his family, saying “love makes you do crazy things,” and apologizing to the Academy and his fellow nominees.
