Chris Rock 'had no idea' Jada Pinkett Smith had alopecia before he was slapped by her husband Will Smith for a gag about her hair loss, according to reports. The Oscars was thrown into chaos when Fresh Prince star Smith, 53, slapped Rock in front of the star-studded audience.
It came after the comic referred to Pinkett Smith - who has a shaved head - as “GI Jane”. Rock was left stunned, telling the crowd: “Will Smith just smacked the s*** out of me.” Smith - later named Best Actor at the ceremony - shouted: “Keep my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth.”
Although Rock has yet to make a public statement on the furore, TMZ reports that he “had no idea” Pinkett Smith has the condition. A source said to be close to Rock also claimed that the comedian and Smith are yet to speak to one another about the incident as he went straight home after the ceremony.
The source said Rock was "shaken and bewildered" by the slap. They said that the comedian "doesn't have a mean bone in his body" and left the ceremony after the incident before heading to an Oscars after party.
The Academy has launched a formal review into Smith's altercation with Rock during the ceremony saying in a statement that it “condemns the actions of Mr. Smith” at the show. A ‘full meeting’ of the Academy’s board of governors has been called for Wednesday evening, according to The Hollywood Reporter, who say the incident will be “topic number one”.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) said no report had been filed after the incident, according to the PA news agency.
