This will definitely go down as a moment never to be forgotten in the history of the Oscars; as it has been tagged as the slap heard “round the world”.
In a swift moment, Will Smith took a Star-studded audience and persons watching at home by surprise when he got up stage to smack Chris Rock across his face. This was after Chris Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith’s hair loss during the 2022 Oscars which took place on Sunday 27th March.
“Jada, I love you,” the comedian said from the stage, quipping, “G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it,” referring to the actress’ buzzed head, as G.I. Jane star Demi Moore wore a similar style.
With the camera focused on the Smiths, the King Richard star, 53 — who would later win the Oscar for best actor seemed okay as he even smiled at Rock’s joke, while Pinkett Smith intensely rolled her eyes.
Though it initially seemed that Smith was OK with the joke, he quickly walked onstage and slapped the Chris Rock, 57, across the face.
Just as he returned to his seat, he yelled, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f–king mouth.”
“Wow. Will Smith just smacked the s–t outta me,” Rock said to the audience before returning to handing out the award for best documentary.
For his part, the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air alum later referenced — and apologized for — the altercation in his speech when accepting his Oscar for King Richard.
Smith’s wife, Pinkett Smith, 50, has recently opened up on her hair loss due to alopecia.