3/31/2022
Oscar 2022 was marked by a surprising event. It happened when Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock in public while presenting his joke material.
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| Will Smith slaps comedian Chris Rock for making insensitive jokes about his wife. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) |
This incident began when Chris Rock made a joke about Will Smith's wife, Jada. He quipped about GI Jane 2, which indirectly alludes to Jada Pinkett Smith's bald condition.
When he first heard the joke, Will Smith seemed to join in with a short laugh. However, Jada's expression when she heard Chris Rock's joke was far from amused.
Hard Slap
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| Will Smith slaps Chris Rock (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) |
Moments later Will Smith was seen walking rather quickly onto the stage. Without expecting what would happen, Chris apparently got a hard slap with the Men in Black actor's right hand.
Looking taken aback, Chris tried to act professional. He remains calm and does not get carried away by emotions. He tried to make the situation fluid again with his throw. "This is the best night ever in television history," he said.
Give Warning
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| Will Smith slaps Chris Rock (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images/AFP) |
After returning to his seat, Will Smith gave a stern warning to Chris Rock. "Don't bring up my wife's name. Don't ever mention her name again," he said firmly.
The incident drew various reactions from netizens and other artists. Many sympathize with his action to defend his wife, but there are also those who think that slapping a public figure at a live Oscar event is not the best move.