Will Smith hits Chris Rock on Oscars stage after joke gone wrong

Will Smith hit Chris Rock in the face on the stage of the Oscars after getting miffed at a joke directed towards his wife— Jada Pinkett Smith.

Chris Rock, who was the host of the Oscars, made a joke and Will Smith quickly took offense and the Oscars suddenly had a scene like none other.

The comedian said: “Jada, can’t wait for GI Jane 2”, in an apparent reference to her shaved hairdo—which is a result of the hair loss condition alopecia. 

Will Smith then walked up to the stage and smacked Rock real hard, just minutes before Smith was named best actor at the ceremony.

Smith then returned to his seat and shouted, “Keep my wife’s name out of your (expletive) mouth” 

At first, watching the telecast, it was unclear whether the assault was a planned bit. But 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.  

Needless to say, the outburst drew a flood of reaction on Twitter, from jokes and memes from more somber reminders from the comedy community that people shouldn’t assault comedians just because their material doesn’t work. 

Watch video here: 

Here's the moment Chris Rock made a "G.I. Jane 2" joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, prompting Will Smith to punch him and yell, "Leave my wife’s name out of your f--king mouth." #Oscars pic.twitter.com/kHTZXI6kuL

— Variety (@Variety) March 28, 2022

The Academy later, on its official twitter handle, said that it did not “condone violence of any form”.

The Academy does not condone violence of any form.

Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world.

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 28, 2022

After winning his first Oscar, American actor Will Smith apologised to the Academy for slapping comedian Chris Rock earlier in the ceremony. 

The actor, during his acceptance speech, said: “I want to apologize to the Academy. I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees. This is a beautiful moment and I’m not crying for winning an award. It’s not about winning an award for me. It’s about being able to shine a light on all of the people. Tim and Trevor and Zack and Saniyya and Demi and Aunjanue and the entire cast and crew of ‘King Richard,’ Venus and Serena, the entire Williams family”. 

“Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams,” Smith added in his tearful acceptance speech.

Earlier this year, Smith had won his first Globen Globe in the same category for the same movie.

The 94th Academy Awards were held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.