Will Smith and Chris Rock’s 2022 Oscars Incident Over Jada Pinkett Smith: Everything to Know

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Will Smith and Chris Rock's 2022 Oscars Incident Over Jada Pinkett Smith: Everything to Know

Going off script. Chris Rock's joke about Jada Pinkett Smith during the 2022 Oscars didn't land well with the actress or her husband, Will Smith. “Jada, I love you. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it. Alright?” Rock joked during the awards show on Sunday, March 27, adding, “That was a nice one.” Jada, for her part, was seen rolling her eyes on screen before Will walked up to the stage and slapped Rock. The incident, which originally appeared scripted, caused ABC to mute the live segment. The King Richard star returned to his seat before saying, “Keep my wife’s name out your f—king mouth." In response, Rock attempted to laugh the situation off before promising not to mention Jada. Later on in the night, Diddy reacted to the feud while asking for the duo to mend their issues. ”I just want to say let's make some noise for Amy [Schumer], Regina [Hall] and Wanda [Sykes]! Gotta give it up for Wanda. I did not know that this year was going to be the most exciting Oscars ever," the rapper said onstage. "OK, Will and Chris we're going to solve that like family at the Gold Party, OK? But right now, we are moving on with love. Everybody make some noise!” [jwplayer f4rroX1Z-zhNYySv2] The former Saturday Night Live star's joke, which was in reference to Jada's shaved head, came after the Red Table Talk host previously opened up about her alopecia diagnosis. The medical condition is known to cause hair loss. In January, the Maryland native posted a video where she pointed out a patch of baldness on her head. “Now at this point, I can only laugh. Y’all know I’ve been struggling with alopecia and just all of a sudden one day, look at this line right here,” she said about her scalp via Instagram. “Now this is going to be a little bit more difficult for me to hide, so I thought I’d just share it so y’all not asking any questions — but you know, mama’s going to put some rhinestones in there, and I’m going to make me a little crown.” Jada captioned the social media upload, "Mama’s gonna have to take it down to the scalp so nobody thinks she got brain surgery or something😜. Me and this alopecia are going to be friends … period!😆." Scroll down for everything to know about what happened between Will and Rock: [podcast_block]

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The Exchange

During the 94th Academy Awards, Will shocked the audience when he walked over and hit Rock during his monologue.

“Will Smith just f—king smacked the s—t out of me,” the Bee Movie actor said in unaired footage that later surfaced on Twitter.

The Suicide Squad star, for his part, sat back down in his seat before yelling, “Keep my wife’s name out your f—king mouth. Keep my wife’s name out your f—king mouth!”

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The Reason

Will's reaction came after Rock made a joke about Jada starring in G.I. Jane 2. The joke about the Girls Trip star's shaved head caused her to roll her eyes before her husband stormed onto the stage.

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Trying to Make Peace

After the on air incident, Diddy trying to offer support to the feuding pair. 

”I did not know that this year was going to be the most exciting Oscars ever," he began. "OK, Will and Chris we're going to solve that like family at the Gold Party, OK? But right now, we are moving on with love. Everybody make some noise!”

The camera focused on Will and Jada who were both seen smiling in response to the comment.

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Will's Speech

The Philadelphia went on to win Best Actor for his role in King Richard. Will kissed Jada before delivering an emotional speech about family.

“Oh, man. Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family,” he said before starting to cry. “I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people. I know to do what we do, you got to be able to take abuse. You got to be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business you got to be able to have people disrespecting you. And you got to smile, you got to pretend like that’s OK.”

He added: “I want to apologize to the academy. I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees. … Thank you for this moment. And thank you on behalf of Richard and the entire Williams family. Thank you. I hope the academy invites me back.”

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Receiving Support

During his acceptance speech, Will noted that he received some advice from Denzel Washington. 

“Denzel said a few minutes ago, ’At your highest moment, be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you,’” Will said. “It’s like, I want to be a vessel for love.”

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Not Part of the Plan

Shortly after the shocking moment, a source exclusively told Us Weekly that Rock initially rehearsed his speech with no mention of Jada. The insider added, "Will was not in attendance for [the] rehearsal."  

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Chris' Past With Will and Jada

In 2016, the Grown Ups actor took a dig at Jada boycotting the Academy Awards during his opening monologue.

“Jada got mad, said she’s not coming. Jada boycotting the Oscars is like me boycotting Rihanna’s panties. I wasn’t invited,” Rock said. “You get mad. It’s not fair that Will was this good and didn’t get nominated. It’s also not fair that Will was paid $20 million for Wild Wild West. This year at the Oscars, things are going to be a little different. In the ‘in memoriam’ package it’s just going to be black people who were shot by the cops on their way to the movies. Yes, I said it, all right?”

Rock and Jada also previously worked together in the animated movie franchise Madagascar. In 1995, Rock also appeared on an episode of Will's series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

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Legal Response

Shortly after the altercation, a spokesperson for the LAPD told Variety in a statement, “We don’t have any details about the incident. As soon as we do, we will make them available to the public."

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The Academy Responds

In a tweet posted at the end of the awards ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences stated, "The Academy does not condone violence of any form. Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world."

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The Aftermath

Us confirmed after the Oscars that Rock did not file an official report with the Los Angeles Police Department. Smith, for his part, avoided the press room following his big win. However, he was spotted celebrating with his trophy in hand at the Vanity Fair afterparty, where Diddy claimed that the drama had been put to rest.

"That's not a problem. That's over. I can confirm that," the musician told Page Six. "It's all love. They're brothers."

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Chris' Post-Show Plans

“Chris is unbothered by the incident,” a source exclusively told Us post-awards show. “It takes more than that to shake him up.” While the comedian was “surprised” by Smith’s reaction, the insider noted that “it didn’t ruin his evening.” The former Oscars host “still went out and partied with friends at Guy Oseary’s party. [He was] laughing and drinking with friends,” the source added. “He didn’t seem shaken up at all.”

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The Apology

Smith apologized via Instagram on Monday.

"Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally," he said in in a lengthy statement, which also included a public apology to Rock.

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SAG Chimes In

"As the union representing presenters and other performers working on the Oscars, SAG-AFTRA is focused on ensuring our members always work in a safe environment," SAG-AFTRA, the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, declared in a statement on the organization's website. "Violence or physical abuse in the workplace is never appropriate and the union condemns any such conduct. The incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock at last night's Academy Awards was unacceptable."

The union noted that it was "in contact with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and ABC about this incident," concluding, "[We] will work to ensure this behavior is appropriately addressed. SAG-AFTRA does not comment on any pending member disciplinary process."

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BAFTA Weighs In

“They would be removed from the ceremony,” said chair of BAFTA’s television committee and deputy chair Sara Putt after The Hollywood Reporter asked how the organization would have reacted. “They would not be in the buildings, so they would not physically be able to collect their award.”

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Chris Breaks His Silence, Academy Reveals Will's Refusal to Leave Oscars

Chris is still "processing" what happened at the awards show, he said during his first standup gig since the incident. An onlooker tells Us that the comedian opened the show on Wednesday, March 30, "by saying, 'How was your weekend?' Which clearly had an undertone that it was better than his. The audience laughed a lot and it really cut the tension."

The Saturday Night Live alum told the applauding audience that “ya’ll are getting me misty-eyed and s—t," according to the insider, adding that "Chris mentioned this show was written before the incident and didn’t bring it up in a direct way too much after."

Rock's comments come just hours after the Academy revealed that Will "was asked to leave the ceremony and refused." The board will meet on April 18 to see if the I Am Legend actor violated any "standards of conduct," and could face repercussions such as suspension or expulsion.

“Mr. Smith’s actions at the 94th Oscars were a deeply shocking, traumatic event to witness in-person and on television,” the Academy continued. “Mr. Rock, we apologize to you for what you experienced on our stage and thank you for your resilience in that moment. We also apologize to our nominees, guests and viewers for what transpired during what should have been a celebratory event.”

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Chris Denies Rumors

During his Wednesday, March 30, stand-up show, Rock seemingly addressed reports that Smith privately reached out to him after the incident. “I haven’t talked to anyone despite what you may have heard,” the Everybody Hates Chris alum said, according to multiple outlets. Us reported earlier that same day that Smith had yet to contact Rock.

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The Producer's Perspective

Will Packer, who produced the 2022 Oscars, opened up about what went down behind the scenes during an interview with Good Morning America, revealing that police were "prepared" to arrest Smith on site. He went on to praise Rock for his "grace" in the heat of the moment.

"Because Chris continued the way he did — he completed the category, he handed the trophy to Questlove, somebody who was really robbed of their moment — it gave us license to continue the show, which is what we were trying to do," Packer said, calling the entire event "bittersweet" because of how many historic moments got "overshadowed" by the feud.

Packer also claimed that he was "not part of" any conversations about removing Smith from the theater before his big win. 

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Will’s Resignation

Following the incident, the Men in Black actor resigned from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and noted that he will accept any “consequences the Board deems appropriate.”

“I have directly responded to the Academy’s disciplinary hearing notice, and I will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct. My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable. The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and loved ones, all those in attendance, and global audiences at home. I betrayed the trust of the Academy,” Smith wrote in a statement to Variety in April 2022. “I deprived other nominees and winners of their opportunity to celebrate and be celebrated for their extraordinary work. I am heartbroken.”

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New Academy Meeting Date

The Academy Board of Governors revealed in April 2022 that they decided to move up their timeline regarding its meeting about Smith’s Oscars scandal from April 18 to April 8, after his resignation announcement.

“The April 18 date was set in accordance with California law and our Standards of Conduct because our agenda included possible suspension or expulsion of Mr. Smith from membership,” Academy president David Rubin wrote in the letter on April 6, noting the timetable was agreed upon to give Smith 15 days’ notice so he could “provide the board a written statement no less than five days prior to that meeting.”

Rubin explained that following Smith’s resignation of his Academy membership “suspension or expulsion are no longer a possibility and the legally prescribed timetable no longer applies.” Now, he concluded, it is “in the best interest of all involved for this to be handled in a timely fashion.”

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The Academy's Verdict

On April 8, the Academy announced that Smith will be banned from attending any Academy events or programs for the next 10 years, "including but not limited to the Academy Awards.” The ban includes both in-person and virtual events. 

“The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year; however, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behavior we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage,” Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson stated in a letter after the board's meeting. “During our telecast, we did not adequately address the situation in the room. For this, we are sorry." 

Smith reacted to the news in a statement, telling Page Six, “I accept and respect the Academy’s decision." 

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Have Chris and Will Talked?

In July 2022, Smith revealed that he and Rock hadn’t made amends.

“I’ve reached out to Chris and the message that came back is he’s not ready to talk, and when he is, he will reach out,” he said via Instagram. In the same video, Smith reiterated his apology, calling his actions “unacceptable.”

“I made a choice on my own, from my own experiences, from my history with Chris. Jada had nothing to do with it. I’m sorry, babe,” he said. “I want to say sorry to my kids and my family for the heat that I brought on all of us.”

He went on to address Questlove, whose category was announced at the time of the incident.

“To all my fellow nominees, you know, this is a community. It’s like I won because you voted for me. And it really breaks my heart to have stolen and tarnished your moment. I can still see Questlove’s eyes,” Smith said. “You know, it happened on Questlove’s award. And, you know, it’s like, I’m sorry really isn’t sufficient.”

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Chris Claims He's 'Not a Victim' in Stand-Up Routine

“I’m not a victim, mother–ker,” the comedian said during his July 2022 stand-up show at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey, an eyewitness told Us at the time. Rock quipped that he "shook that s–t off” and went back to work.

The Madagascar voice actor also joked, “Anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face,” and seemingly referred to Will as "Suge Smith," an apparent reference to the Death Row Records CEO, who is serving prison time for manslaughter.

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What Does Chris Think of Will's Second Apology?

“Chris has no immediate plans to have a one-on-one with Will,” a source exclusively told Us in August 2022, adding, “He’s moving forward.”

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Will's Future in the Industry

In August 2022, Packer praised Smith for addressing the situation in a public video.

"I love the fact that he's being so transparent about his process," the producer told Entertainment Tonight. "I think that he's got three decades in this business of being somebody that is the exact opposite of who he was in those few seconds, and so I'm pulling for him."

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The Host Offer

The Academy offered Rock a 2023 hosting gig, the comedian claimed. He reportedly told audiences during his August 28 comedy show in Phoenix, Arizona that he turned down the gig, comparing it to returning to a crime scene.

He referred to the murder trial of O.J. Simpson while explaining his stance. Rock claimed that going back to the Oscars would be like asking the late Nicole Brown Simpson “to go back to the restaurant” where she left her eyeglasses before her 1994 murder.

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The Jokes

"I'm not a victim," Rock said during his Netflix stand-up special Selective Outrage in March 2023. "You will never see [me crying about it]. Never gonna happen."

During the streaming service's first live show, the comedian elaborated on his altercation with Smith. "Anyone who says words hurt has never been punched in the face," he said. "I got smacked at the f—king Oscars by this motherf—ker. And people are like, 'Did it hurt?' It still hurts!"