Hollywood actor Will Smith smacked American comedian Chris Rock during the live telecast of Oscars 2022 after the latter made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head.
Rock used Pinkett-Smith’s appearance as a punchline. He said: “Jada I love you, ‘G.I. Jane 2,’ can’t wait to see it.”
It did not sit well with Pinkett-Smith, who rolled her eyes over the comment. She has been struggling with alopecia, a disease that resulted and causes hair loss.
Her husband also did not take the joke lightly.
Will Smith went on the stage and smacked Rock in the face. He also dropped expletives against the host.
“Leave my wife’s name out of your [expletive] mouth,” the actor shouted from his seat.
Will Smith, later on, apologized to the Academy during his emotional speech, after receiving the award as “Best Actor” for his role as Richard Williams in “King Richard”.
“I know to do what we do you’ve got to be able to take abuse, and have people talk crazy about you and have people disrespecting you and you’ve got to smile and pretend it’s OK,” said Smith.
He added: “I want to apologize to the Academy, I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees.”
After the incident, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences released their own statement regarding the eventful evening.
“The Academy does not condone violence of any form. Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world,” read the statement.
