Will Smith & Chris Rock: Stars React to Oscars Smack
On a night when CODA won the award for Best Picture and Ariana DeBose became the first openly gay woman of color to win an Oscar, it was Will Smith slapping Chris Rock that stole all the headlines.
Smith took to the stage after Rock made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and slapped the comedian across the face. “Will Smith just smacked the s*** out of me,” a shocked Rock said as Smith yelled from his seat for the presenter to “keep my wife’s name out of your f****** mouth.”
The reactions to the slap stunned those in the audience and those watching from home. Stars from across Hollywood took to social media to share their thoughts, with some siding with Smith for defending his wife and many others admonishing his act of violence against a comedian making a joke.
“Violence isn’t ok. Assault is never the answer. Also? This is the 2nd time that Chris has made fun of Jada on the #Oscars stage, & tonight he went after her alopecia,” wrote Chicago P.D. actress Sophia Bush. “Punching down at someone’s auto-immune disease is wrong. Doing so on purpose is cruel. They both need a breather.”
“Stand-up comics are very adept at handling hecklers. Violent physical assault… not so much. #UgliestOscarMoment_Ever,” tweeted Star Wars actor Mark Hamill. “Will Smith owes Chris Rock a huge apology,” added director Rob Reiner. “There is no excuse for what he did. He’s lucky Chris is not filing assault charges. The excuses he made tonight were bullshit.”
Violence isn’t ok. Assault is never the answer. Also? This is the 2nd time that Chris has made fun of Jada on the #Oscars stage, & tonight he went after her alopecia. Punching down at someone’s auto-immune disease is wrong. Doing so on purpose is cruel. They both need a breather.
— Sophia Bush (@SophiaBush) March 28, 2022
Stand-up comics are very adept at handling hecklers.
Violent physical assault… not so much.#UgliestOscarMoment_Ever pic.twitter.com/enUimEoLV6— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) March 28, 2022
Will Smith owes Chris Rock a huge apology. There is no excuse for what he did. He’s lucky Chris is not filing assault charges. The excuses he made tonight were bullshit.
— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) March 28, 2022
Adding some levity to the moment, former Tonight Show host Conan O’Brien wrote, “Just saw the Will Smith slap. Anyone have a late night show I can borrow just for tomorrow?”
“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,” tweeted actress Mia Farrow, while comedian Kathy Griffin worried about what precedent this could set. “Let me tell you something, it’s a very bad practice to walk up on stage and physically assault a Comedian,” Griffin said. “Now we all have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theaters.”
Just saw the Will Smith slap. Anyone have a late night show I can borrow just for tomorrow?
— Conan O’Brien (@ConanOBrien) March 28, 2022
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 (@MiaFarrow) March 28, 2022
Let me tell you something, it’s a very bad practice to walk up on stage and physically assault a Comedian.
Now we all have to worry about who wants to be the next Will Smith in comedy clubs and theaters.— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) March 28, 2022
Will and Jada’s son, actor and rapper Jaden Smith, also shared his reaction to the incident, simply tweeting, “And That’s How We Do It.”
And That’s How We Do It
— Jaden (@jaden) March 28, 2022
While Smith later apologized to the Academy and his fellow nominees during his Best Actor acceptance speech, he did not say sorry to Rock. He also didn’t attend the backstage presser to answer questions from reporters. However, he did show up at the Vanity Fair afterparty at the Wallis Annenberg Center in Beverly Hills, where he was apparently seen dancing to his hit record “Gettin Jiggy Wit It.”
Check out more reaction below.
B!tch don’t you ever play with me. LOL • https://t.co/jnbpt4Vpb3 pic.twitter.com/Klb3GEIL3d
— 50cent (@50cent) March 28, 2022
I love Chris Rock. I don’t think he would’ve made that joke had he known what Jada recently shared- but between him & the whole team @ the #Oscars you mean to tell me not ONE of y’all heard this woman just share this heartbreaking story? #ComeOnSon … (continue to next tweet)
— Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) March 28, 2022
Dying at this photo from the Vanity Fair #Oscars viewing party…. pic.twitter.com/YAvcr2KN6O
— Jarett Wieselman (@JarettSays) March 28, 2022
so upsetting – on every level – bravo to Chris Rock – for not eviscerating will smith – which he could do any day of the week – he walked away – bravo from a sad display of toxic masculinity from a narcissistic madman #Oscars2022 #chrisROCK
— ROSIE (@Rosie) March 28, 2022
I’m tripping that you can assault someone on live television on stage at the Oscars and just take your seat and watch the rest of the show.
— Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) March 28, 2022
Wtaf????? That wasn’t scripted????? 😳😳😳😳😳😳😳😳
— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) March 28, 2022
I know we’re all still processing, but the way casual violence was normalized tonight by a collective national audience will have consequences that we can’t even fathom in the moment. #Oscars2022
— Janai Nelson (@JNelsonLDF) March 28, 2022
#WillSmith says he wants to be a vessel for love. Love is not violent. Love is not what was displayed on a global stage tonight. #Oscars
— Maria Shriver (@mariashriver) March 28, 2022
Anyone else need therapy after watching The Oscars? I’m not even joking.
— Matt Lucas (@RealMattLucas) March 28, 2022
I know the big story is the slap, but congratulations to @amyschumer @iamwandasykes & Regina Hall who were very funny – I hope that isn’t overshadowed by the unpleasantness #Oscars
— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) March 28, 2022
As usual, when it comes time to hand out the documentary Oscar, all hell breaks loose.
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) March 28, 2022
Lol so public assault is the answer to an insensitive joke in 2022??! Good to know. I’ll be doing my next Netflix special over Zoom.
— London Hughes (@TheLondonHughes) March 28, 2022
“Keep Paul Walkers name out of your fucking mouth” – Vin Diesel standing over my bloody body at next years Peoples Choice Awards
— adam pally (@adampally) March 28, 2022
This Will Smith thing is about to be a #TwoAmericas situation
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) March 28, 2022
