Last night Will Smith slapped Chris Rock across the face live on stage at the Oscars 2022 after the host made a joke about the star's wife.
The drama unfolded when Chris made an unsavoury joke about Jada Pinkett Smith's buzzcut, quipping: "Jada, can't wait for GI Jane 2."
Pinkett Smith's recently shaved head is due to her alopecia diagnosis, which causes hair loss, with the star previously opening up about the condition. In an episode of her chat show, Red Table Talk, she shared the moment she first noticed she was losing "handfuls of hair" while showering.
"It was one of those times in my life where I was literally shaking with fear," she said. "That's why I cut my hair and continued to cut it."
Following Chris Rock's quip, Will Smith walked up to the stage and slapped the presenter, before returning to his seat and shouting: "Keep my wife's name out of your f****** mouth."
Later on in the evening, Will went on to win his first Oscar for his performance in King Richard and apologised on stage for his previous actions.
Glasgow Live asked its readers this morning "Do you think Will Smith was wrong to react the way he did or would you feel the same way if someone made a joke about your partner?" - and opinions were split.
One defended Will Smith, writing: "Chris Rock was making a joke about a medical condition that she has, sorry but that is really bad taste and nothing to make jokes about."
"Chris Rock was wrong to make that joke, it’s his fault this has happened," another agreed.
"I’m not condoning what Will Smith did but Chris Rock didn’t just ‘make a joke about his wife’, he made a joke about her health condition which is a low blow when she has been open about struggling with alopecia for a few years. Totally distasteful…", said one reader.
Another wrote: "That 'joke' was really cheap and nasty. As a disabled person it definitely strikes a cord with me (and apparently the guys face) Great to see this not being tolerated, shame it wasn't handled without violence."
However, others slammed Smith's actions, with one commenting: "It was a harsh joke but a well over the top reaction let's be fair much worse has been said by comedians."
"I’d be irritated but physical violence cannot be justified in such cases," another added.
"He could fight back with words or talk to him back stage. Slapping, punching etc is not solution," agreed another reader.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments.
