I haven’t watched the Oscars in ages for obvious reasons. It’s a gathering of the most liberal, most privileged, and most detached people on the planet. It’s Diva land. Don’t get me wrong. I love movies. I’ll continue to watch them, but I don’t need to be lectured for three-plus hours by woke Hollywood types who haven’t interacted with normal people in ages.
At the same time, maybe I, or anyone else who refuses to watch awards shows anymore post-Trump, should have because total pandemonium ensued when Chris Rock made a joke about Will Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett Smith.
What the hell just happened?
Will Smith just punched Chris Rock in the face for a joke about Jada. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/pJjh8v3I9t
— ForAmerica (@ForAmerica) March 28, 2022
What just happened?!
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) March 28, 2022
Sorry, what is happening at the Oscar’s right now ??
— Sarah McCrory (@sarahhmccrory) March 28, 2022
Did Will Smith just do that?
— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 28, 2022
so maybe I should’ve watched the Oscars this year after all pic.twitter.com/frFDEnOin0
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) March 28, 2022
Did Will Smith just do that?
— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 28, 2022
MAYHEM BETWEEN CHRIS ROCK AND WILL SMITH AT THE #Oscars pic.twitter.com/265hGbsEDg
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) March 28, 2022
So, who is in the main event with Dame Judi Dench?
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) March 28, 2022
Smith is seen chuckling a bit. Pinkett Smith is clearly not happy. As Rock continues with his bit, Smith walks onto the stage and slaps Rock. The delays cut the visibly angry Smith, though Japanese television caught everything which is included below.
Rock handled the moment with class calling it, “the greatest night in the history of television.”
Every year, this event has become more of a trainwreck.
This is the most unhinged Oscars ever
— Colleen Wolfe (@ColleenWolfe) March 28, 2022
Now, the other part of this is whether this was staged or not? I’m not so sure.
Super slow mo. This was definitely real. pic.twitter.com/ee62NcZ3ah
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) March 28, 2022
Sean Combs addresses that wild Will Smith and Chris Rock moment at the #Oscars: "Will and Chris, we're gonna solve that like family at the Gold Party." pic.twitter.com/5r6WHHBdeE
— Variety (@Variety) March 28, 2022
Variety reported that during the commercial break Denzel Washington and Will Smith's publicist spoke to the actor. They also noted why Smith probably reacted the way he did regarding Rock's joke:
Will Smith’s publicist Meredith O. Sullivan came by him at the commercial break to have a discussion. Also during the break, Denzel Washington got up to speak to Smith privately.
Pinkett Smith announced last year she shaved her head after struggling with alopecia. The actor said in an Instagram post, “Now at this point, I can only laugh… y’all know I’ve been struggling with alopecia. Just all of a sudden, one day…it just showed up like that. Now, this is going to be a little bit more difficult for me to hide. So, I thought I’d just share it so y’all not asking any questions…Mama’s gonna have to take it down to the scalp so nobody thinks she got brain surgery or something. Me and this alopecia are going to be friends … period!”
Rock ended up awarding the documentary Oscar to Questlove for “Summer of Soul.” Asked in the Oscars press room about Smith smacking Rock, Questlove said, “I’m not talking about that. This is about the Harlem cultural festival.”
***
Here's the uncensored version here:
VIA JAPANESE TELEVISION: The uncensored exchange between Will Smith and Chris Rock pic.twitter.com/j0Z184ZyXa
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) March 28, 2022
UNCENSORED WILL SMITH FOOTAGE AS SHOWN ON AUSTRALIAN TV pic.twitter.com/NcRfdjWxqe
— David Mack (@davidmackau) March 28, 2022
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