WATCH: Will Smith Smacks Chris Rock For Bald Head Joke Targeting Will’s Wife Who Has Alopecia

(source: BBC)

In what may be the most insane moment in the history of the Academy Awards, Will Smith jumped on stage and smacked Chris Rock while the comedian was presenting the nominations for Best Documentary at the 2022 Oscars.

Before presenting the category, Chris joked that Jada Pinkett Smith, who has publicly acknowledged her suffering from alopecia that causes hair loss, might be in the running for “G.I. Jane 2”. His joke referred to the 1997 film, in which Demi Moore played the title role with a buzzcut.

(source: SheKnows)

At first, Will is seen laughing at Chris’ joke while his wife rolls her eyes as the camera cuts from Chris onstage to the couple’s reaction.

Will, who was heavily favoured to win Best Actor for a leading role in King Richard, then stormed onto the stage and appeared to slap Chris. He then returned to his seat and shouted, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth”, twice.

However, viewers in the U.S. did not hear Smith’s invective, as the Oscar producers cut the sound. Instead, they saw only a visibly shaken Chris staring after Will. Some international viewers, on the other hand, got to see the whole uncensored scene.

Take a look:

According to Variety, many in the Oscars audience appeared stunned at the altercation.

Diddy was the next presenter during the ceremony, where he appeared to introduce the 50th-anniversary celebration to The Godfather. Diddy addressed the situation by saying, “Will and Chris, we’re going to solve this like family. Right now we’re moving on with love. Everybody make some noise”.

Will later apologised while making his best actor acceptance speech.

“I want to apologise to the Academy. I want to apologise to all my fellow nominees. Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father just like they said about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things”, he said.

“I know to do what we do, you gotta be able to take abuse and have people talk people about you. In this business, you gotta have people disrespecting you. And you gotta smile and pretend that’s ok.”

Will also revealed in his speech that Denzel Washington said to him, “At your highest moment, be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you”, minutes after the incident.