Update: This news has been updated to include the award for best actor at the Oscars.
Actors Will Smith and Chris Rock had an altercation on live television on Sunday during the presentation of the academy awards. A few minutes later, Smith won the Oscar for best actor for his performance in the film “King Richard”.
Smith apparently hit rock in the face following the comic actor made a joke regarding Smith’s wife.
Here’s the moment Chris Rock made a “G.I. Jane 2” joke regarding Jada Pinkett Smith, prompting Will Smith to punch him and yell, “Leave my wife’s name out of your f–king mouth.” #Oscars pic.twitter.com/kHTZXI6kuL
— Variety (@Variety) March 28, 2022
Smith got up from his seat in front of the stage, walked over to Rock and punched him. The television broadcast on ABC immediately removed the audio.
The joke regarding Jada Pinckett-Smith was for her performance in the movie “GI Jane” and for not having hair. She has previously spoken regarding suffering from alopecia, a hair loss condition.
According to videos on Twitter, once Smith punched Rock, he said, “KEEP MY WIFE’S NAME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.”
Accepting the award for best actor, Smith said: “Love makes us do crazy things.”
During his speech, Smith, who played the father of tennis players Venus and Serena Williams, Richard Williams in King Richardsaid that Williams always protected his family.
“Right now, I feel overwhelmed by what God has called me to be: protect and defend my family.”
Smith also apologized to the Academy and the other nominated actors, but not to Chris Rock.
After the event, a surprised Chris Rock, tried to continue with the presentation of the award for best documentary, but visibly upset.
Variety confirmed that following the incident, Smith’s publicist, Meredith O’Sullivan, approached the actor to speak.
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