RTE aired delayed coverage of the 2022 Oscars on Monday night but did not include the Will Smith slap.
The moment that has been making headlines across the globe was taken out of the final cut which aired on the Irish station.
It was not down to RTE however, with the Academy sending the final cut to stations, deciding what they do and don't want featured.
The station said in a statement: "RTÉ has acquired the Oscars 2022 highlights programme which airs on RTÉ2 at 9:35pm.
READ MORE: Chris Rock is 'yet to speak to Will Smith' after Oscars outburst which left him 'shaken'
“The programme is produced by the Academy and they make the decision on what content makes the final edit of the programme.
“RTÉ along with all the other international broadcasters who acquire the programme have no have no say in the final edit produced for broadcast.”
But that didn't stop many viewers who were gobsmacked, like Rock himself, that the biggest moment of the night wasn't shown.
One viewer tweeted: "Cannot believe it, RTE have edited out the #WillAndChris slap."
Another added: "99% of people that tuned into the Oscars highlights was to see that Will Smith and Chris Rock moment again yet RTE cut it out."
Will Smith and Chris Rock have reportedly not yet spoken to each other following the altercation.
The actor, 53, was seen live on air slapping the comedian, 57, following a joke that the latter had made about Jada Pinkett Smith, 50, when he guest presented at the event.
He suggested that she looked like G.I. Jane - seemingly in reference to her shaved head - which she has previously said was related to having suffered hair loss due to alopecia.
Shortly after the comment, Will - who has been married to Jada since 1997 - took to the stage to confront Chris, with him then seen slapping the comedian on the live broadcast.
READ MORE: Will Smith's memoir sheds light on Chris Rock smack as he shares 'most violent trigger'
