It’s a moment in Oscars history that will live in infamy, and unfortunately, it seems to have overshadowed the entire event.
Best Actor Award winner, Will Smith stormed the stage and smacked presenter Chris Rock at the Oscars on Sunday.
The comedian had made a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith’s appearance, who has been battling alopecia.
Rock was roasting some of the nominees and, after mentioning Smith, said of his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, “Jada, I love you. G.I. Jane II, can’t wait to see it.”
WARNING: The clip below contains strong language.
During a tearful acceptance speech, Will Smith apologised to the Academy, but not directly to Rock.
Here's Will Smith's tearful acceptance speech at the #Oscars. https://t.co/ulvT7fsB57 pic.twitter.com/Uq2krBbBld
— Variety (@Variety) March 28, 2022
Smith won the Best Actor award for his portrayal of Venus and Serena Williams’ dad Richard Williams in King Richard.
The expletive laden outburst from Smith, broadcast on a time delay of a few seconds in the United States, appeared to have been cut from the live transmission for many viewers because of the language.
Smith has been criticized for the assault.
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.
— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 28, 2022
As satirists and comedians many of us are afraid of politicians and dictators who want to do what Will Smith did on live TV to us for the things we write or say. We condemn this as we rightly should. There is NO context in which an assault is justified in response to a joke.
— Elnathan John (@elnathan_john) March 28, 2022
https://twitter.com/Strandjunker/status/1508335668228939777
Please tell me I didn’t see what I just saw. Somebody please tell me that @willsmith was joking and it was part of the show when he just smacked @chrisrock on National Television. I’m begging y’all….please don’t tell me @willsmith would do something like that???
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 28, 2022
