From: officialflagrant
The 2022 Academy Awards were marked by an unexpected altercation between actor Will Smith and comedian Chris Rock, following a joke made by Rock about Jada Pinkett Smith’s appearance [00:00:11].
The Incident
During his presentation at the Oscars, Chris Rock made a joke referencing Jada Pinkett Smith’s baldness, quipping, “Jada, I love ya. GI Jane 2, can’t wait to see it” [00:00:15]. Jada Pinkett Smith has publicly discussed her struggle with alopecia, an autoimmune disorder causing hair loss [00:04:43]. Initially, Will Smith was seen laughing at the joke [00:18:09], but after Jada Pinkett Smith visibly rolled her eyes [00:18:23], Smith walked onto the stage and slapped Rock across the face [00:00:42]. Upon returning to his seat, Smith yelled, “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth!” [00:07:57].
Reactions to the Joke and Slap
Chris Rock, initially in shock, responded by stating that Will Smith had just “smacked the shit out of me” [00:50:09]. He took the slap “like a champ” [00:14:15] and continued with his presentation professionally [00:09:00]. Many spectators initially thought the incident was a skit [02:50:41].
The incident occurred during the “theater nerd Super Bowl,” as the Oscars are jokingly called [00:08:24]. Despite the on-stage assault, Will Smith remained in the audience and later accepted his Oscar for Best Actor [00:01:14]. This decision by the Academy was criticized, with comparisons made to other public figures who have faced consequences for their actions [00:33:34].
Chris Rock's Reaction and Career
Chris Rock’s decision not to hit back was seen by some as a professional move to protect his career, as hitting back could have jeopardized future voiceover work or movie roles [00:09:10]. He was also reportedly touring with “ego death” as his new show’s name [00:10:13]. It’s speculated Chris Rock might not have known about Jada’s alopecia diagnosis [00:56:01].
Underlying Dynamics
The incident sparked wider conversations about the dynamics within the Smith family and Hollywood.
Will Smith’s Motivation
It was suggested that Will Smith’s actions were a reaction to his wife’s discomfort, potentially feeling he needed to “make up for the fact that he… laughed” at the joke [00:18:28]. Some argued his act was a defensive move for his family, aligning with his portrayal of Richard Williams in King Richard [00:48:12].
Conversely, others suggested Smith’s behavior stemmed from deeper insecurities and frustrations [00:57:51]. It was speculated that his “fame is slipping” and that his whole identity is “wrapped around being the guy” [00:24:44]. Comparisons were made to Jim Carrey’s “crisis” when his career began to fade [00:24:47]. The notion that Smith “was not built for this age of transparency of celebrity” was also raised [00:25:16].
Jada Pinkett Smith’s Role
Jada Pinkett Smith’s past public disclosures about her “entanglement” were brought up, questioning why Smith would be upset about a joke but not about his wife’s publicly known relationships [00:35:40]. Some speculated that Jada might be “a literal witch” or a “sorceress” with Will Smith “mind controlled” [00:17:41], or that Smith is in an “emotionally abusive relationship” [00:27:22]. Jada’s “Red Table Talk” was cited as an example of selective transparency [00:36:36].
Hollywood’s Reaction
Many in Hollywood were seen as siding with Will Smith, with figures like Samuel L. Jackson, Denzel Washington, and Bradley Cooper showing support [00:16:30]. It was suggested that many in the audience, having been “made fun of by Chris Rock,” were secretly “happy” to see the comedian “slapped” [00:16:01]. The Academy’s decision not to remove Smith was seen as prioritizing the show and his expected Oscar win [00:34:34].
Comedians Under Attack
The incident was framed as an example of “comedians are under attack” [00:03:39], highlighting the challenge of maintaining comedic freedom versus personal sensitivities. A comedian shared a personal anecdote of being punched on stage, emphasizing the “complete shock mode” experienced in such moments [00:12:28]. The contrast was drawn between Will Smith hitting Chris Rock, a smaller comedian, versus hypothetically hitting someone like The Rock or Joe Rogan [00:50:10]. The slap was labeled “bully behavior” [00:37:37].
Comedic Boundaries
It was argued that while people have the right to be upset by a joke, physical assault is not justified [00:43:55]. Comedians often roast public figures at events like the Oscars, and part of being a celebrity is facing such jokes [00:43:17]. If a public figure chooses to share their life openly, they should be prepared for public commentary and jokes, including those they may monetize [00:39:00].