A 94th Academy Awards that steadily maintained a buoyant spirit was rocked by an unbelievable exchange after Will Smith took offense to a joke made by Chris Rock about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
After Rock joked to Smith that he was looking forward to a sequel to “G.I. Jane,” Smith stood up from his seat near the stage, strode up to Rock and slapped him. After sitting back down, Smith shouted at Rock to “keep my wife’s name out of your (expletive) mouth.”
READ MORE: Bradley Cooper Responds To Will Smith Describing Him As ‘So Beautiful’
Chris Rock made a joke about Jada Pinkett-Smith being in "G.I. Jane" because of her bald head. She's spoken openly about having a hair loss condition. Will Smith ran on stage, slapped Rock, then screamed twice at the top of his lungs "KEEP MY WIFE'S NAME OUT OF YOUR F-NG MOUTH."
— Amy Kaufman (@AmyKinLA) March 28, 2022
A startling and tense moment occurred at this year's Oscars as Will Smith confronted Chris Rock following a joke involving his wife Jada Pinkett Smith. https://t.co/LK1dWfBR0r#oscars pic.twitter.com/II8R4PVHsT
— ABC News (@ABC) March 28, 2022
OMG! Will Smith just got on stage to punch Chris Rock for disrespecting his wife‼️#Oscars pic.twitter.com/mYwx1Jf48j
— The Chat (@LiveOnTheChat) March 28, 2022
During the commercial break, Will Smith is pulled aside and comforted by Denzel Washington and Tyler Perry, who motion for him to brush it off. Will appears to wipe tears from his eyes as he sits back down with Jada, with Denzel comforting Jada and Will’s rep by his side. pic.twitter.com/uDGVnWrSS2
— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) March 28, 2022
READ MORE: Will Smith Says There’s Never Been Infidelity In His and Jada Pinkett Smith’s Marriage
The moment shocked the Dolby Theatre audience and viewers at home. At the commercial break, presenter Daniel Kaluuya came up to hug Smith, and Denzel Washington escorted him to the side of the stage. The two talked and hugged and Tyler Perry came over to talk as well.
Smith is widely expected to win his first Oscar later in the ceremony.
