Actor Will Smith has been grabbing the attention on the internet since last evening after he slapped Chris Rock in the face as the comedian made a joke about Smith’s wife during the Oscar ceremony.
It all started when Chris Rock, who was the presenter of the Oscar ceremony last evening began making a few jokes about members of the show’s audience, including Pinkett Smith—referring to her as ‘G.I. Jane’ due to her closely cropped hair. (Pinkett Smith has spoken in the past about her battle with alopecia.)
Read more: Here’s the complete list of Oscar 2022 nominees
Shortly after Rock made the joke, Smith walked to the stage and slapped the comedian across the face. He then returned to his seat and shouted, ‘Keep my wife’s name out of your mouth.’
At first, it was unclear whether it was planned or not, however, the show’s audio immediately cut out after Smith slapped Rock, then stayed muted as Rock said, “Will Smith just smacked the shit out of me,” while Smith walked away.
During the commercial break, Will Smith is pulled aside and comforted by Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry, who motion for him to brush it off. Will appears to wipe tears from his eyes as he sits back down with Jada, with Denzel comforting Jada and Will’s rep by his side. pic.twitter.com/uDGVnWrSS2
— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) March 28, 2022
As per the reports, the Smiths, per Ford, held hands at their seat for the rest of the show after the assault. This was not the first time Rock had made a joke about Pinkett Smith at the Oscars. During the 2016 ceremony, which Rock hosted, he poked fun at Pinkett Smith for boycotting that year’s ceremony. “Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties,” Rock said at the time. “I wasn’t invited.”
Since this mishap, hashtags like ‘Arrest Will Smith’, ‘Oscars 2022’, ‘NOT OK’, ‘GI Jane II’, and ‘Academy Awards’, have been trending on social media, let’s have a look:
That was horrendous. Will Smith should be charged with assault if he laid hands on Chris Rock. Violence in any form is unacceptable. The joke was horrible. The reaction was worse.
— Renee (@junkfoodjourney) March 28, 2022
@willsmith should have been escorted out, unacceptable. At the Oscars, disappointed to say the least. #oscars #whatjusthappened https://t.co/pvP9IO6Q9w
— Choquis (@papafrita_16) March 28, 2022
I think it’s safe to say, we are all Lupita right now. #Oscars #Oscars2022 pic.twitter.com/5xZPNyG3n3
— Vanilla Bean Fappucino (@LeRealFappucino) March 28, 2022
‘Babe Will Smith just slapped Chris Rock and then won best actor lmao it’s like some multiverse of madness level shit lol. Wish you were here xo’ #Oscars #Oscars2022pic.twitter.com/V1yKFSwYiz
— Benji (@Cule_Ben) March 28, 2022
Will Smith may have won an Oscar, but Chris Rock has earned priceless Respect in the manner he conducted himself after that assault!
To the daughter(s), wife & parents that watched a dad, husband and a son being abused tonight, I stand with you.#Oscars2022 #teamChrisRock pic.twitter.com/2qIMNNH6M7
— Sqewes (@sqewes) March 28, 2022
The cops tryna arrest Will Smith:#Oscars pic.twitter.com/Eu5FzFXCl1
— Nick Collette (@nickcollette_) March 28, 2022
A GI Jane joke about Jada got Will Smith worked up enough to punch Chris Rock during a live awards show? pic.twitter.com/dHG8lPjkDX
— Adam Carolla (@adamcarolla) March 28, 2022
