As they do every year, the Oscars were simply rolling along. Some of the most talented people in Hollywood were winning the tiny gold man on a pedestal. Laughs were shared. Tears were shed. Everyone was having a grand old time!
Then Chris Rock came to the stage to present. And in what has to be an Oscars first, some sort of confusing chaos broke loose.
During a short monologue, the comedian turned to a ‘G.I. Jane’ joke about actress Jada Pinkett-Smith, who has spoken about her autoimmune disorder alopecia. Her husband, actor Will Smith, appeared to take exception and stepped onto the stage. Except Smith didn’t only step.
He slapped Rock across the face.
Here’s a video of the entire sequence, which the Oscars’ domestic broadcast bleeped out, leading to confusion all over the Internet.
Warning: NSFW — Language
VIA JAPANESE TELEVISION: The uncensored exchange between Will Smith and Chris Rock pic.twitter.com/j0Z184ZyXa
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) March 28, 2022
Was it real? Did Smith really slap Rock?
In the commercial break immediately after, Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry pulled Smith aside and appeared to console him.
During the commercial break, Will Smith is pulled aside and comforted by Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry, who motion for him to brush it off. Will appears to wipe tears from his eyes as he sits back down with Jada, with Denzel comforting Jada and Will’s rep by his side. pic.twitter.com/uDGVnWrSS2
— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) March 28, 2022
But the night wasn’t over.
