Culture

Will Smith Just Slapped Chris Rock In The Face At The Oscars

"Get my wife's name out of your f**king mouth!"

by Merryana Salem  28 March 2022
will-smith

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It’s Oscars night and Will Smith just punched Chris Rock in the face.

What’s an Oscars night without a little drama? After a relatively uneventful ceremony of scripted digs and good-natured ribs, Will Smith and Chris Rock have supplied Oscar audiences with a truly unbelievable moment to remember.

Presenting the award for documentary feature, comedian Chris Rock was doing a pretty familiar routine for the evening. His presenter monologue included some ribs at members of the celebrity audience as is standard for presenters. “Jada, I love ya,” Rock said. “GI Jane 2, can’t wait to see it.” The joke refers to Pinkett-Smith’s shaved head that she’s been rocking for the past few months after making her struggle with alopecia public.

Pinkett-Smith’s scowl said it all as Rock tried to proclaim the joke was “a nice one.” But moments later, Will Smith took to the stage, walked right up to Rock and hit him in the face.

“Wow! Will Smith just slapped me in the face,” Rock exclaimed as Smith returned to his seat. But the mayhem was far from over.

“Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth!” Smith shouted. Twice. Many of the attendees appeared stunned by the altercation.

When Diddy got up to present a special acknowledgement for the Godfather’s 50th anniversary, he acknowledged the awkwardness. “Will and Chris, we’re going to solve that like family. Right now we’re moving on with love. Everybody make some nose.”

Will Smith is nominated in the Best Actor category for King Richard.

Photo Credit: Myung Chun/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images