Shocking Moment Actor Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock On Oscars Stage For Making A Joke About His Wife, Jada Pinkett (Video)

In one of the most shocking moments in Oscars history, Will Smith stormed onstage and slapped presenter Chris Rock for a joke the comic made about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith (video below).

The drama began while Rock was presenting best documentary during the 2022 ceremony. Rock made a crack about Pinkett Smith getting ready to film a sequel to G.I. Jane — an apparent reference to the actress having a shaved head. (Pinkett Smith has been open about her hair loss due to alopecia.)

“Jada, I love ya,” Rock said. “G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it. All right?”

Smith laughed, though looking a bit uncomfortable. Pinkett Smith rolled her eyes and glared at Rock. Hearing disapproval from the crowd, Rock implored, “That was a nice one!”

Smith stood up, stormed onstage and smacked a stunned Rock in the face.

As Smith went back to his seat, Rock marveled, “Wow, wow … Will Smith just smacked the shit out of me.”

“Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth!” Smith roared, again seated in the audience.

“Wow dude, it was a G.I. Jane joke,” Rock said, which prompted Smith to repeat his demand.

Looking visibly shaken, Rock paused for a moment and then told the crowd: “That was a — Greatest night in the history of television” and then continued along with his presenter moment.

In another dramatic twist, Smith then won the award for best actor for King Richard — his first Oscars win — and retook the stage.

While the Smith-Rock confrontation initially had many wondering if it was some kind of stunt, any doubts were erased when Smith used his moment onstage to apologize for his actions.

“Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family,” Smith said. “In this time in my life, in this moment, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world. Making this film, I got to protect Aunjanue Ellis, who is one of the most strongest, most delicate people I’ve ever met. I got to protect Saniyya and Demi, the two actresses who play Venus and Serena. I’m being called on in my life to love people. And to protect people and to be a river to my people.”

Smith wiped away tears and continued: “I know, to do what we do, we got to be able to take abuse. You gotta be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business, you gotta be able to have people disrespecting you and you gotta smile and pretend like that’s OK. … Denzel said to me a few minutes ago, ’At your highest moment, be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you.’ I want to be a vessel for love. I want to say ‘thank you’ to Venus and Serena and the entire Williams family for trusting me with your story. … I want to be an ambassador of that kind of love and care.”

He continued, “I want to apologize to the Academy, I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees. This is a beautiful moment, and I’m not crying for winning an award. It’s not about winning an award for me, it’s about being able to shine a lot on all the people … and the entire cast and crew of King Richard and Venus and Serena and the entire Williams family. Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams! But, love will make you do crazy things.”

In a statement posted to Twitter after the show, the Academy said it “does not condone violence of any form” and stressed that the night is to celebrate the winners who “deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja)