The world cannot stop talking about the 94th Academy Awards ceremony, but the buzz is for all the wrong reasons.
If you somehow missed it, audiences of the annual awards show were shocked when actor Will Smith slapped presenter and comedian Chris Rock, after Rock poked fun at Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
Smith won his first Oscar for Best Actor shortly after the violent outburst, an honorable achievement that was overshadowed by his earlier behavior.
Smith's unexpected reaction came after Rock made a joke about Pinkett Smith's shaven head. However, Pinkett Smith suffers from alopecia, which is why she sports the hairstyle. It is unknown if Rock was aware of her medical condition, though the actress has publicly discussed it before on her show, Red Table Talk.
Still, people were surprised that the one joke set off Smith, especially since he is known as one of Hollywood's nicer celebrities.
But it didn't take long for internet sleuths to dig up a precious incident between Rock and the Smiths that may suggest there is bad blood between them.
In an attempt to make sense of the drama, Twitter users began circulating a clip of Rock making fun of the couple when he hosted the 2016 Academy Awards:
Chris Rock didn\u2019t attack Jada, he cracked a bad joke\u2026. \n\nWill had frustrations and embarrassment already, plus Chris Rock cracked on them in 2016\u2026. \n\nJada rolled her eyes and Will wanted to go \u201cThug Life\u201d \u2026 \n\nThe End.— Ebro (@Ebro) 1648447884
2016 Oscars hosted by Chris Rock. Not to justify last night\u2019s actions but just wanted to provide some context around Will\u2019s \u201cpent up anger\u201d. #WillSmithpic.twitter.com/RVZvGy8DsS— Kutlwano (@Kutlwano) 1648446838
I have to wonder if the Will/Jada/Chris beef has been stewing for a while.\n\nFrom Chris Rock\u2019s monologue in 2016 where he jokes about Jada boycotting the ceremony that year.pic.twitter.com/RWGROFu7zj— Andrew Claudio (@Andrew Claudio) 1648438810
According to Huffpost, in response to Pinkett Smith boycotting the show for a lack of diversity in the nominees, Rock quipped:
“Jada said she’s not coming. I was like, ‘Isn’t she on a TV show?’"
"Jada’s gonna boycott the Oscars?”
“Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties. I wasn’t invited!”
Rock also made fun of Smith for not being nominated for his performance in the biopic movie Concussion:
"Will was not nominated for ‘Concussion.’ I get it. You get mad."
"It’s not fair that Will was this good and didn’t get nominated. You’re right."
"It’s also not fair that Will was paid $20 million for ‘Wild Wild West.’”
While the clip does add an interesting layer of context, it doesn't excuse Smith for resorting to violence and unprofessionalism during his industries's most important night.
Many celebrities and fans took to Twitter to condemn Smith's reaction - after all, Rock is a comedian and was just doing his job:
Let me tell you something, it\u2019s a very bad practice to walk up on stage and physically assault a Comedian.\nNow we all have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theaters.— Kathy Griffin (@Kathy Griffin) 1648436992
I know we\u2019re all still processing, but the way casual violence was normalized tonight by a collective national audience will have consequences that we can\u2019t even fathom in the moment. #Oscars2022— Janai Nelson (@Janai Nelson) 1648440131
It was just a joke. Jokes are what Chris Rock does. Always has been edgy. This was a mild joke for him. And i love GI Jane— Mia Farrow (@Mia Farrow) 1648440242
We should never get to a place where we sit and watch a movie star hit someone on global television then, moments later, get a standing ovation while talking about love. #WillSmith #Oscars— Maria Shriver (@Maria Shriver) 1648439499
Stand-up comics are very adept at handling hecklers.\nViolent physical assault... not so much.\n\n#UgliestOscarMoment_Everpic.twitter.com/enUimEoLV6— Mark Hamill (@Mark Hamill) 1648445565
ugh. calling violence a sign of love - no thank you. that is a dangerous idea that has fueled domestic violence for far too long .— Glennon Doyle (@Glennon Doyle) 1648436010
What I thought was going to be a relaxing night celebrating art turned into a deeply upsetting and unsettling one. One where someone who handled his emotions with violence - and justified that as love - is then celebrated and applauded. Deeply disturbing.— Laura Lynne Jackson (@Laura Lynne Jackson) 1648440886
The devil made him do it. Love made him do it. No, take ownership Will. Rage is unacceptable. Tarnished the Oscars for all of us watching. And apologize to Chris Rock btw.— BlessYourHeart (@BlessYourHeart) 1648439647
For the rest of his career, Will Smith\u2019s Oscar win will be associated with this moment. That he wasn\u2019t escorted out by security, is a reminder of two America\u2019s. That if you are rich & famous, rules are different. That he sat back in his seat proves that Will also knows that\u2026— Ty Ross (@Ty Ross) 1648442324
The Academy and Richard Williams, the man Smith won the Oscar for portraying in King Richard, also announced that they did not condone Smith's actions:
The Academy does not condone violence of any form.\n\nTonight 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.— The Academy (@The Academy) 1648444232
Richard Williams Speaks Out on Will Smith Slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars: \u201cWe Don\u2019t Condone Anyone Hitting Anyone\u00a0Else\u201dhttps://variety.com/2022/film/news/will-smith-richard-williams-oscars-chris-rock-1235217501/\u00a0\u2026— Variety (@Variety) 1648520106
While there was a lot of shock and disappointment, there were even more jokes about the altercation:
So disappointing that Will Smith played Muhammad Ali but he couldn't even knock out Chris Rock.— Michael Ian Black (@Michael Ian Black) 1648440839
Just saw the Will Smith slap. Anyone have a late night show I can borrow just for tomorrow?— Conan O'Brien (@Conan O'Brien) 1648437291
i'm sorry but jamie lee curtis holding a dog on stage during the in memoriam for betty white right after will smith punched chris rock is a 30 rock sketch— aleksander chan (@aleksander chan) 1648435596
Will was laughing. Until he wasn\u2019t.pic.twitter.com/zTZyX94N4N— Diana. (@Diana.) 1648436743
"omg was that scripted" "i literally dont know"pic.twitter.com/56W9eVrX0L— nay (@nay) 1648437451
I mean... a "not cool" probably would have been enough, but I guess he really had to prove something after he LAUGHED at the joke himself.pic.twitter.com/euYyjNbGiF— Wendy Reese (@Wendy Reese) 1648447068
gonna tell my kids i witnessed both the la la land/moonlight and will smith/chris rock moments live— danielle (@danielle) 1648435901
everyone around will smith after he sat back downpic.twitter.com/4NoHUfvrJ1— erwin smith enjoyer\ud83d\udccc cat gfm (@erwin smith enjoyer\ud83d\udccc cat gfm) 1648438214
Smith has since issued an apology to Rock on his Instagram:
Let's hope that next time, these celebrties can keep their hands to themselves.
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