- Will Smith came up to the stage to hit Chris Rock in the face after a joke about his wife
- The Hollywood superstar apologized after the incident
- Dana White, Jon Jones, Francis Ngannou and more react
Hollywood fans were shocked with what just happened at the Oscars ceremony after renowned movie star Will Smith smacked his fellow actor Chris Rock on national television. Smith later addressed the issue and apologized for his actions.
Rock crossed the line
Being the comedian he is, Rock, who was presenting the best documentary feature, pulled off a witty “G.I. Jane joke” about Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett, referring to her being bald. Pinkett would roll her eyes after the following joke:
“Jada, I love ya. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it!”
Smith appeared to be laughing it off at first. but he later came up to the stage and hit Rock in the face with full force.
#Oscars | Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock In The Face On Oscars Stage After Jab At Wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s Appearance https://t.co/6TZkI48QNh pic.twitter.com/ibpffmh2Mc
— Deadline (@DEADLINE) March 28, 2022
“Wow!” Rock said, following the slap. “Will Smith just smacked the s**t out of me!”
Smith responded after returning to his seat and yelled:
“Keep my wife’s name out [of] your f*****g mouth!”
It can be recalled that Pinkett Smith announced last year that the reason why she shaved her head was because she had been struggling with alopecia, well-known hair disorder.
Smith apologized
Smith won the best actor award for his role as Serena and Venus Williams’ father, Richard in the movie “King Richard.” During his speech, the 53-year-old was reduced to tears and apologized for what he has done.
“I want to apologize to the Academy,” Smith said. “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. But love will make you do crazy things.”
Smith and Rock have yet to personally talk about the issue but one thing certain at the moment is that the comedian will never joke about Jada again.
Chris Rock declined to press charges on Will Smith, following the incident.
Here is how Dana White, Jon Jones and MMA community reacted to the slap:
FINALLY!!!!! there's an #Oscars show worth watching. AND @chrisrock has a chin https://t.co/SYahGonQTg
— danawhite (@danawhite) March 28, 2022
Very hard to surprise me nowadays but watching Will Smith slap the shit out of Chris Rock is very surprising! I’m actually amazed that this happened. You could see the moment Will started to feel played
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) March 28, 2022
Someone get me on the phone with Will Smiths boxing representative asap
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) March 28, 2022
I got $15m for Will Smith and $15m for Chris Rock ready to go
Let’s do it in August on my undercard https://t.co/jBYIpHOTk2
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) March 28, 2022
Chat shit get banged.
— michael (@bisping) March 28, 2022
Lmao!!!!!!!!! If that was @ColbyCovMMA he would of been on the phone calling 911 while trying to give Trump a hand job. Well played @chrisrock. You took that shit like a man… You should catch him in the parking lot lol pic.twitter.com/4Cznq3il3l
— Sean Strickland (@SStricklandMMA) March 28, 2022
🤷🏿♂️ pic.twitter.com/DQ5EqYftcU
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) March 28, 2022
Hey @chrisrock I got your back and you @ColbyCovMMA not so much. pic.twitter.com/XHsfyAaRAV
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo) March 28, 2022
Next @ufc match up @willsmith vs @chrisrock
Book it asap #Oscars— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) March 28, 2022
Sucker punch? He looked boy in his eye and slapped him. Lol don’t tell me you getting soft on me now Dan! https://t.co/IucktixF04
— Deron Winn (@DeronWinn) March 28, 2022
Colby and Chris rock crying with eachother “but It was just business” pic.twitter.com/RvlcO0rW1F
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) March 28, 2022
Woke up to Will Smith slapping the shit outta Chris Rock… pic.twitter.com/bm7GYbHugI
— Megan Anderson (@MeganAnderson) March 28, 2022
#willsmith might want to pull one of these out 2night 😆 pic.twitter.com/ckoDsDCYPn
— #OnAmission4Gold (@KelvinGastelum) March 28, 2022
That was a clown move by Will Smith.
Rock is a comedian he's doing what comedians do… Make jokes.
Will Smith is whack for that weak move.
What you protecting your wife from? Words? He's protecting his wife from jokes… how stupid and weak.
— Will Brooks (@ILLxWillBrooks) March 28, 2022
Mike Lowery out here getting active lmao 🤣 Chris should of rocked his ass ctfu https://t.co/7QiGoA6EnS
— Jamahal Hill (@JamahalH) March 28, 2022
Colby and Masvidal take notes…
— Jared Vanderaa (@Jaredvanderaa) March 28, 2022
Will Smith don't gotta cuss in his raps to sell records pic.twitter.com/XdCftf8C8c
— Nick Newell (@NotoriousNewell) March 28, 2022
Right hand connected by @RealWillSmithFP pic.twitter.com/4P2o60tyFv
— Jairzinho 'BIGI BOY' Rozenstruik (@JairRozenstruik) March 28, 2022
Chris Rocked https://t.co/hbxrL3OAcy
— Ricky Simón (@RickySimonUFC) March 28, 2022
We giving points for slapping comedians……..yall real inconsistent out here
— Sodiq Yusuff (@Super_Sodiq) March 28, 2022
Don’t talk about ppls families 🤷♀️ https://t.co/S3y8x27ZBD
— Kay Hansen (@KayHansenMMA) March 28, 2022
Chris Rock “ED” #Oscar pic.twitter.com/JjMbj0BqWO
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) March 28, 2022
Well done mr will smith
— C H🖕🏽T O🇪🇨V E R A (@chitoveraUFC) March 28, 2022