The Entire Will Smith Oscars Slap Controversy Explained

Minutes before winning his Oscar, Will Smith went down in Oscar history for a very different reason. Here's the story behind the slap heard around the world… literally.
#WillSmith #Oscars #ChrisRock
Will Smith's Oscar history | 0:00
Frontrunner status | 1:40
The slap | 2:52
Confusion in the moments after | 3:54
Chris Rock's joke didn't land | 5:00
Rock's relationship with the Smiths | 5:57
Will and Jada under scrutiny | 7:14
The reaction was polarized | 8:26
What happened next? | 9:43
The consequences | 10:38
Read full article: www.looper.com/1181750/the-en...

[@Looper]

What was your initial reaction to the slap?

[@daveerk6573]

Will wouldn't have gone up on stage if Chris Rock was as big as him or bigger.

[@zacharycollins9485]

The Illuminati has some crazy initiation rituals! Lol

[@dago4133]

Black on black voilance. So i dont care

[@crystalsherman8896]

Shocked

[@mgithaiga1]

suprised

[@Alastair_]

Chris Rock should host it again but wear a boxing helmet as a joke.

[@tovopro]

Or have security detail standing on each side of him (shades, folded arms, and all!). LoL

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

@@tovopro Chris Rock co-hosting with Mike Tyson. I'd watch that.

[@lukewilliams7061]

Genius lol

[@chantelparker4108]

That's funny 🤣he should hope he bleeds Will Smiths career dry.

[@user-fd1yc3dd6n]

yo mamma shud

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

Chris Rock deserves an Oscar for keeping his composure.

[@ironboywonder2766]

Lol cowardness

[@kieranhart5776]

What else could he do? Lol He was shocked. Will need his face slapped.

[@alphasports3743]

Just if you didn't know Chris Rock was throwing a shade at Jada ... Chris Rock was still holding a grudge at Jada because she turned his ugly a@@ down for a date when it was rumored that her and Will was getting a divorce. He took that moment to throw a shade at her when she told him that it wasn't true, they it was rumors. She said he sound shock and apologized ... nahh ... remember it was that same year Chris Rock was divorced for cheating on his wife he aske Jada out. Chris is not that innocent he done it intentionally like more stalkers do when they get turned down.

[@Jetstreamhustla]

@@alphasports3743wow a lot of back story but does he not know that jada was get her guts rearranged by august alsina I wouldn’t even stooped that low to lil ole CHRIS ROCK LOL

[@michellecrocker2485]

What really gets me is that he took too long to get around to apologizing to Chris Rock . On Twitter, he apologized to everyone else BUT Chris rock which makes me question the sincerity of any of his apologies

[@bilbogmail8511]

He punched Chris rock for a reason, why would he want to apologize to him, but he understands how it's not right for the public to see it

[@stevelloyd9925]

I'm sorry u did that to my wife going through something id slap the shit out of em

[@devantethedcguyreactstoo252]

Well duh he going to apologize to the people but not Chris because he meant what he did lol regardless of how we feel and are opinions that's still his wife at the end of the day

[@RSSSports2023]

Well, Will Smith could've filed a lawsuit against Chris Rock for a decades long slander but instead he chose not to and just slaps the living hell out of him. Comedy isn't comedy when your best lines is to poke fun about a man and his family.

[@f2redz262]

​@bilbogmail8511 that was a slap...you can tell that will Smith is a b*tch. What kind of man slaps another man?🤣 And it was a joke.

[@andrewaugustus9481]

That was the most excitement a Oscars show has had in years.

[@seanbeukman9563]

see my comment

[@gruffydd1000]

aN

[@damarbell6733]

Okay we all know he wouldn't have done anything if Jada hadn't looked at him like that, he was literally laughing, like this.........🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@melindagarcia1245]

Jada is a CONTROLLING narcissist! She makes me sick

[@DavidfromMichigan]

Right. He was laughing his ass off. Just showed how much of a bitch he really is.

[@ultimosoneto674]

yeah, he got afraid that he would hear from her when he got home, it would fracture his marriage again, and Jada would go back to bringing men to his house while not giving him a divorce. so, essentially. jada was the puppeter there.

[@markochs9409]

I don't agree. Plenty of other people he's worked with confirmed he's a ghetto thug punk beeoch!

[@alphasports3743]

@@ultimosoneto674 Funny I wonder isf Jada will use the strap-on on Chris Rock next ... she been doing men and women ... is that in her book? No of course not.

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

Love doesn't make you do crazy things. It's Narcissism.

[@ironboywonder2766]

Yes

[@ricardohendricks1711]

100%!!

[@angesvlogs6628]

🙄🙄

[@classifiedtopsecret4664]

@@ironboywonder2766 and low intellect.

[@jmoney6900]

I think u need to look a little more into history recent and old because love does make people do crazy things and we have a full historical record depicting that.

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

One word. "Jada."

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

"August"

[@JDMdrifterboy7]

This wasn't even the first time he slapped someone on camera

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

Didn't he slap a reporter?

[@JDMdrifterboy7]

@@PhantomFilmAustralia yeah. There is a video of it from like 10 years ago

[@juliolopez7231]

Will Smith is a violent person and his wife doesn't help at all.

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

Chris Rock took a slap. Will Smith & Jada can't take a joke.

[@alphasports3743]

I knew it was going to come out ... Jada Smith turned Chris Rock down for a date after he got caught cheating but his now ex wife. He was still angry at Jada so he made a Joke about her hair. He called a married woman up and asked her out on a date and she told him ... she and Will are not getting a divorced. He used the Oscars to embarrass her because she turned him cheating a@@ down. Will slapped him for his ex-wife too.

[@lucabrassy7051]

If it was Dwayne Johnson making the joke, that would never have happened. It's only cuz he knew he could do it with no physical repercussions

[@Majin_Apex]

I say this ALL THE TIME 😂

[@ericrietvelt1970]

Don't say anything negative about Will on here. He will see the post on here, go to your house and slap you. 😂😂😂

[@gl3913]

I watched the unedited cut of the slapping incident here on KZbin about 40min before the Oscars ceremony was finished. Chris Rock did not do anything wrong at all and what he said about Jada was pretty minor and harmless compared to what could have been said by other comics who are more vulgar than Rock. Will Smith was out of control that night and he may never get another Oscar ever again for his actions. There was an article that was released right after the Oscar nominations were coming in and it was announced that only 50% of the Motion Picture Academy board would vote for Smith's performance in EMANCIPATION and the other 50% would not. There was also an announcement that was made a few weeks ago that mentioned that because of Smith's actions last year that there will be an actual crisis support team on hand at the Oscars next weekend in case something else happens. How much Smith's actions will cost him as the future unfolds remains to be seen.

[@alphasports3743]

Rock was pissed she turn his cheating a@@ down for a date.

[@gl3913]

I doubt that very much considering how much Rock has admitted in public the impact that cheating had on his first and only marriage to the mother of his 2 daughters. And, I still stand by all that was said in my initial comment above. And besides, considering how Jada herself was influenced and raised by members of her own family, Jada would have never married Will Smith if she was not pregnant with her first child with Will.

[@alphasports3743]

@@gl3913 Sorry Jada said it and will be coming out in her new book. Yes Rock admitted to cheating but he didn't admit he tried to get in Jada's panties shortly after that. His said he did cheat was to make it seem like a good guy ... but if you look at facts ... in 2016 his divorce was final and shortly after that he calls Jada who had to set the record straight she was not going out with his ugly a@@ ... that the rumors about her and Will was rumors. To be honest women like Jada don't need to be asked, they do it on their own. He was pissed at Jada and made a joke about her hair because he's a misogynist. A man with his status who cheat on his wife and try to ruin another marriage who have their own issue, Rock is not a good person. He suppose to be their friend .... friends don't try to get in the wives panties while they still working on their marriage.

[@thaundadogg3787]

This is still a thing!?

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

Jada Pinkett laughs about how she cheated on Will at the Red Table Talk, but can't take a bald joke.

[@justicejakober5506]

GI Jane 2 Can’t wait to see it

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

She didn't cheat. It was an "entanglement". 😂😂

[@seangonzalez9025]

Glad Cris Rock finally filed a lawsuit against Will for not knowing how to control his emotions. I applaud Chris for not reacting in a ignorant violent manner like Will Smith. Sticks and stones and we know the rest. Do not put your hands on ANYONE!

[@ironboywonder2766]

Chris rock dint sue will smith

[@seangonzalez9025]

@@ironboywonder2766 Yes he is. It’s been a topic for a min now

[@jonathanperry8331]

WAIT OJ SIMPSON WAS UPSET ABOUT THE VIOLENCE? WHAT?

[@Cuefrost101]

Respect...my man.... Respect... It's very difficult and shows Great character to turn the other cheek!

[@kalebishop6563]

This is why comedy can be tragic, not everyone will get the joke, and comedy can have the tendency to be not kind or compassionate just to get the punchline. It's tough to know which side was on the right, while Will chose a violent way, maybe Chris could've chosen something less targetted and mocking and more friendly or light-hearted. You never know what's going on other people's minds so it's best to respect them. Regardless, it's a tough controversy to break down and make a verdict out of.

[@looking4things669]

Jada doesn't have alopecia. She uses it for self-promotion like Amber Heard uses DV.

[@chomihai]

I will never watch his movies again

[@lukewilliams7061]

😂

[@saharasafari9]

Who cares

[@ironboywonder2766]

That slap is a death hourse

[@4inchFury]

"Lack of diversity in that years nominees." So, they're supposed to nominate people of color just so the nominees are diverse? I thought they nominated people based on their abilities, not the color of their skin. I mean, who'd you rather have as a pilot in a plane you're on? The best pilot, or the person who only made the cut because they were the diversity hire?

[@pepijnstreng4643]

If you think the oscar nominees are based on who are the best actors, you don't know much.

[@4inchFury]

@Pepijn Streng I'll admit I don't know the precise ins and outs of the nomination process for the academy awards. Nor do I give 2 squirts of piss. But simple logic says the award for "best actor" goes to the best actor. But in this new society that we all unfortunately live in, I realize that's not the case. It's more about who kisses who's ass the most.

[@irvingcurtis2975]

Not to be mad at what u think but over many years this what this country been doing and dont open your mouth about leaving u stop thats a long time ago doing Marcus G time and before plus histoey has told many wrong thing about people of color, Look at jobs houses and over mislead things and yet we still rise 400 plus years later.

[@4yoursoul]

They HAVE to nominate black people too regardless if they had talent or not , otherwise we will hear ANOTHER slave story bs that nobody cares . In 2023 we have black people that talk about slaves although they never experienced it and complain about being doscriminated while themselves call white people “crackers” , “snow flakes” etc on stage live on tv and nobody says anything about it. So yes i rather have a talentless black person nominated for some award than more of them moaning about their great great grand fathers being wipped

[@michellecrocker2485]

I’m not surprised. Mark Hamill doesn’t seem like a “slap thy neighbor “ kinda person but I am also not surprised Jayden smith backed his father because probably in his mind, his mother had been disrespected

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

Jayden rides the wave of popularity. He did it for the Tweets.

[@michellecrocker2485]

@@PhantomFilmAustralia that’s a good point but I also like to think it was a loyalty to one’s parents too. Jayden wasn’t gonna publicly admit that what his father did was messed up

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

@@michellecrocker2485 He's publicly shamed his parents before. Sometimes unfounded, and other times justified. This wave, however was just too big for him not to ride. He's conflicted and messed up, which is no surprise growing up with those parents.

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

Eren Yeager told Will Smith to slap Chris.

[@PhantomFilmAustralia]

Will's line, "Keep my wife's name out your f**king mouth" was lifted from a Samuel L. Jackson film called "Lakeview Terrace" released in 2008.

[@MGEE8572]

Jada was the boss on that night telling her man to go and stand up for her after that joke

[@kayleeplatner18]

i blame jada. will thought it was funny and was laughing at the joke, until he saw her rolling her eyes. sad that he got in trouble for her. even after she cheated and referred to it as an entanglement 😒

[@jackgamble6120]

I just have a few questions. When Is the G.I. Jane 2 movie coming out? Will Jada make a cameo appearance?

[@imbatman5882]

The real reason Will Smith slapped Chris Rock with an open hand, is because paper beats rock.

[@aleqvasquez5509]

I still haven't stopped calling him Slappy

[@zxadvent19]

It’s been forever. Why are people still talking about this like it happened last night? 😒

[@ZeldaSam1]

SERIOUSLY!?!?!

[@lukewilliams7061]

The world is bored

[@Kirby-wf4iw]

He can't accept that Mr Perfect isn't so perfect. He's still having a hard time learning he's human, humans fall short all the time and that what's keeps us going he needs to realize that.

[@hardiktyagi1955]

Well, that was quick

[@batgaming7366]

Both Will and Jada seemed to think that Chris was making fun of her condition.

[@lastpme]

Still can’t believe he did something so stupid.

[@lukewilliams7061]

I also still can’t believe he’s human

[@chrisnoecker5287]

OJ appalled over a slap....lmao.

[@melvingaines1446]

u know it's too far when the man who murk'd two people says it was😂

[@seanbeukman9563]

Pfizer sponsored the Oscars that year. They had just released a drug for Jadas condition. Chris and Will are among the best actors in the world. Hollywood is BRILLIANT at illusion. This was a private and very confidential business agreement. The goal? Boost viewership and INTEREST in Hollywood. Movies are losing out to you tubers. What better way to regain an audience. Through controversy. Viral is not the word. Chris and Will benefitted handsomely. A perfect staged event. I expect nothing less from professional actors on the worlds biggest stage. Publicity stunts MUST be included the next Oscars. "We just watched the biggest event in television history" not "Jada and Will, I sincerely apologise, I went too far, please forgive me". They are buddies from long ago. Absolute bs. The world fell for it. Pfizer, Will, Jada, Chris and Hollywood 1, the rest 0. Guess what? Sold out Chris Rock tours followed the incident. Talk about publicity. These people are geniuses. I worked in marketing. This is top of the heap stuff.

[@tylersmith9465]

I hope they work it out 🤞

[@katarinad1309]

Here’s a fact if you don’t want people to talk about your personal bs then don’t make money off of it by airing that stuff in public/write a book about it/ televise it I mean be serious.

[@AdelChamsdine]

That’s extremely sad

[@hannablue7038]

This is an act that can't be explained!

[@bstrader9946]

Well, it’s not a good idea to slap but also it’s not good idea to make fun of someone’s wife health condition too… sometimes it’s taking risk to laugh out of someone

[@skiptoacceptancemdarlin]

also, Will should have just asked Chris Rock if he,too, was on the DL

[@R1trapz]

I dont get this can someone explain what did the joke rock made mean?

[@brandonjackson6172]

J.I. Jane is a movie that focuses on a female character with a buzzed head. Jada's hair loss condition and her shaving it gives her the same "boot camp" buzzed head look.

[@R1trapz]

@@brandonjackson6172 ur a legend thanks.

[@akeemfitness1997]

It her fault ruined will careers

[@ironboywonder2766]

Career isn't ruined or death

[@RoseGoldRonE]

The 2016 Jada joke wasn’t about her celebrity but about the fact that she was on a television show and wasn’t in any movies, y’all have that one wrong.

[@SpammytheHedgehog]

I wish we get another Oscar moment like last year.

[@alifuller1658]

😆

[@crystalsherman8896]

No

[@katarinad1309]

You need counseling seriously.

[@gruffydd1000]

publicated?

[@michellecrocker2485]

As a preschool teacher, I’ve had to tell 3 year olds to use their words. How old is will smith?

[@jmoney6900]

I think he was first know as a rapper

[@genostylez3]

Will was musician for years. Enabling Fresh Prince. Fresh Prince was not his beginning.

[@ZeldaSam1]

Look, if Chris Rock was takin' pot shots @ Mrs. Smith, I can't exactly blame Will...

[@_9T9T1_]

god, how many times?

[@SwavSkis]

Lost all respect for will smith

[@pykapuka]

I think you should have started with the birth of wills parents to fully explain the controversy!

[@BeckasGunner]

The thing is, it was not a very nice joke to say, since it is a disease, but you can see that his intention wasn't to be harmful. It was indelicate? yes, but Will Smith should've kept his composure. If Jada really was pissed off by the joke, she could've gone there and slapped him herself

[@herbydeslorge]

This is why you better watch your behavior cause one bad behavior can ruin your whole career you’ve been working on for years.🤔

[@Phobosz]

tomorrow this incident will be 1 year old, time flies.

[@mydogjesus]

Sorry, but Chris doesn't need to apologize for that light hearted joke... Every man on Earth deals with hair loss, ... I feel her entire attitude about it is absurd.

[@aliengranpa]

He felt like he was untouchable that night and did whatever he felt like. In the process he set things back for black actors in a way we still don't realize yet.

[@thomasmccrea3074]

Deeper than that supposedly back in 2019 rumors got out will and Jada was getting a divorce and Chris tried to slide on Jada knowing he’s friends with will nothing to do with gi Jane reference

[@LoveAboveAll.-mn8vn]

praying and hoping for the best for USA. Stay cool headed.

[@LuureAmet]

Finally someone dares to be a man and stand up for a love. its not like he slapped a girl - he slapped another man, for insult, its not a crime but a honorable thing to do. He set stage for future to be on the side of woman and love, great, that someone has dignity in Hollywood.

[@technogaming6523]

Could someone tell me what angered will because I didn’t understand the joke Chris put out there

[@cliftonsworld4866]

Went from the greatest to the worst instantly to protect someone who publicly shames him every chance she gets all over a GI Jane Joke stop and think about that for a minute

[@jade-br1xx]

That's right. Will should've slapped Jada instead.

[@evanantonola4935]

Human ego can fuck your life up if you dont guard it.

[@pagman798]

if I were Chris Rock I would have called the cops immediately, that would've been the Oscar we all the deserved!

[@hummingbird11]

My husband was a fan of Will Smith. After that incident, my husband said he lost all respect for Will.

[@fo4141]

& no one cares...🙄

[@hummingbird11]

@@fo4141, apparently you do, since you took the time to comment. 🙄

[@ibabechanel]

A lot of people did.

[@ctothaz]

This is kinda late, no?

[@ariesmarie4677]

They did the EXACT same skit in the 50s. Someone sent me the clip. I feel tricked.

[@kellymarie923]

I always thought he was such a great actor now when the movie comes across with him in it all I see is him smacking Chris Rock inappropriately he could have just said hey don't disrespect my wife and left it at that the really sad thing is so many kids liked him and looked up to him for his acting and that's what he wants to show them

[@d4niel711]

Isn’t being present in the current moment the point of meditating quest?😂

[@VostieChei]

Summer of soul

[@UncleRuckus736]

Will just had enough. Chris has been cracking jokes on Jada since her and Will married in 1997 back when Chris had his HBO special, The Chris Rock Show.

[@shibitoobscura3348]

"But hey, that's the downside of comedy. You're always taking shots from folks who just don't get the joke." (The Joker - Batman the animated series)

[@dbmaster46446]

omg 2 secound of that clip and my ears hurts ... what a voice

[@akamomakawife4928]

It's not like Chris was hurt.

[@ironboywonder2766]

He wasn't hurt

[@pattyoneill91]

kings never hurt the jester

[@kiphood8145]

I won’t watch any of his movies anymore. And there’s a lot of good ones but if you can act like a 12 year old girl you should be kicked out of Hollywood.

[@franciscocardiel177]

Im watching Chris Rock live on Netflix, I stopped support Will smith after this

[@johnyaskoveakarpaccio4737]

reminds me of tom cruise's weird-personality-change years ago with Matt Lauer,you look and see these people differently after the fact...i'd hate but love to see will smith at an actors roast,and suprised since will smiths from west philly,you would think he would be more thick-skinned

[@zach3431]

I’ve never liked will smith to be honest. I always felt like he was fake and putting an act on in public. And I think what happened at the Oscar’s was we saw who the true will smith is and I think he only apologized to save himself and his career because I don’t think he thought he did anything wrong to be honest.

[@netkosent1620]

Personally, I'd love if that's how you win an Oscar. Nominees get on stage and fight til last one standing. Gotta train for the Oscars.

[@mattsmoviemagic8123]

Really?! OJ Simpson Being Appalled By Acts Of Violence?

[@watuwant-co-uk]

Will smiths career and finances should take a hard slap. Celebs getting away with such actions and getting an award for it makes me sick and his position as a celeb makes him and his wife fall guys for jokes like most famous people. What point making a joke about someone elses wife who is a GI Jane that we dont know. Or perhaps Mr Willy had a soft spot for GI Jane lol Respect to Chris Rock the bigger man

[@aniagorna997]

👍

[@anthonygause8082]

Y'all Wanna Make Jokes About It

[@DippyHippie]

Punk Will Punk Jada!

[@aghhehadori18]

You kinda late

[@moody86]

I wonder if instead of Rock was "The Rock" himself. Smith wouldn't have said a word.

[@johnvandenheuvel6792]

Jada's condition is nothing compared to my father in law who has no hair anywhere since he was 40. He is a vevey healthy 85 year old. Peter Garret from the famous Australian band , Midnight Oil, has had it since he was 20 and it didn't slow him up. People in public should have a thick skin or stay out. I have my hair but have been a paid musician for 35 years. There are no excuses for what Will did. If Mike Tyson told that joke Will would have done nothing. He's gutless for slapping a much smaller man IMO. If he did that in Australia to anyone he would have a fight on his hands for sure. Kind regards.

[@sickismael1607]

The fact that will laughed at the joke and franklin the turtle jada pinkett smith alsina give that side eye which meant 2pac wont allowed that and happens what happened

[@agustdan6599]

Will Smith won't let you talk about his wife, but he'll let you flock his wife??

[@akamomakawife4928]

My reaction is he was defending his wife any man that loves his wife would have done the same thing ! Just because it was a room full of rich people everyone's going to be so outraged and appalled come on now I've seen worser people stripping on stage at these award shows that's been more appalling than anybody slapping somebody I think he done the right thing if that would have been my husband he wouldn't have got slapped he would have been missing some teeth.! Yes that's the truth they would have been calling the ambulance and the cops.

[@reubprue8602]

Will Smith revels how weak he really is while Chris Rock rermained solid as a rock!

[@willow881000]

It's all over with me re Will Smith. I will NEVER watch him, again!

[@lukewilliams7061]

Yes you will

[@pakman3777]

It's funny y'all recapping this.

[@anthonygause8082]

I Ain't Recapping Shit

[@anthonygause8082]

If That Happen To You ?

[@Smudgethecat47]

Don’t comment or you will get slapped

[@akamomakawife4928]

I'm sorry but if any of the rumors is true about will and Jada's marriage being open they need to just get a divorce and get it over with because that's not a good way to have a marriage no way is my husband getting to date who he wants to while we're married just like I'm not getting to date nobody I don't want to date nobody while I'm married I got a man...

[@gruffydd1000]

Ego gone wild. Appropriate as he was doing a film about the Williams'.