Chris Rock–Will Smith slapping incident
Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars.
The Chris Rock–Will Smith slapping incident occurred on March 27, 2022, during the 94th Academy Awards ceremony. Actor Will Smith walked onto the stage and struck comedian Chris Rock across the face after Rock made an unscripted joke about Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, referencing her shaved head, which was due to alopecia. The incident, which was initially mistaken by many in the audience as a scripted bit, quickly became a global news event and overshadowed the remainder of the awards show.
Quick Facts
- Date
- 27 March 2022
- Venue
- Dolby Theatre
- Location
- Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
- Also known as
- "The Slap Heard Around the World"
- "Slapgate"
- "The Slappening"
- Target
- Chris Rock
- Perpetrator
- Will Smith
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Jada Pinkett Smith and Chris Rock had a long history of interactions, having worked together on the Madagascar films. Rock had previously hosted the Oscars in 2016, which Pinkett Smith boycotted due to the lack of African-American nominees. In 2018, Pinkett Smith revealed on her talk show Red Table Talk that she had been diagnosed with alopecia areata and had begun shaving her head in July 2021. Will Smith had been nominated for Best Actor for his role in King Richard, and Rock was announced as a presenter for the ceremony.
Reader's Guide
The incident's significance lies in its unprecedented nature at a major awards ceremony and the immediate and lasting consequences for Smith. The slap and subsequent profanity were largely muted on U.S. live television due to federal censorship laws, but uncensored international footage went viral, with an excerpt from the Australian broadcast becoming one of the most-viewed online videos within 24 hours. Smith later won Best Actor and apologized to the Academy and other nominees but not to Rock; he issued a public apology the next day. He resigned his Academy membership on April 1 and was banned from Academy events for 10 years. The event polarized public opinion, with most expressing disapproval of Smith's actions, and led to tangible repercussions such as Netflix canceling a planned sequel to Smith's film Bright. The photograph of the slap, taken by Reuters photojournalist Brian Snyder, became iconic and widely circulated.
Did You Know?
- The slap was in response to Rock's unscripted joke comparing Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head to the character in the film G.I. Jane.
- Smith was asked to leave the ceremony but refused, according to the Academy; others present denied that he was ever asked to leave.
- The uncensored footage from the Australian broadcast on the Seven Network received more than 50 million views on YouTube within 24 hours.
- Rock declined to press charges, though LAPD officers were prepared to arrest Smith on battery charges.
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