Yes, yes the Oscar event is the day that the best in cinema is acknowledged and awarded and it is all very important. But the 2022 Oscar Awards are going to be remembered for as much for a non-cinema related event as they will be for the best picture, actor, director etc. Chris Rock was doing what he often does --- making fun of people, often with some off-colour jokes. Will Smith in the audience is not pleased and lets him know. Take a look at some of the Oscar highlights, the Will Smith-Chris Rock video and what happened afterwards:
This was the first movie produced by a streaming service to win the Best Picture award. Jessica Chastain won best actress for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”. Will Smith won the best actor Oscar for “King Richard”. Jane Campion got the best director award for “The Power of the Dog”. The best song award went to “No Time to Die”. “Encanto” got the award for the best animated film.
The first deaf person to win an Oscar was Marlee Matlin for Children of a Lesser God in 1986. Troy Kotsur’s role in CODA has been the second – in the video, the audience can be seen offering silent applause for winning the Best Supporting Actor award.
In the video Chris Rock makes a silly joke; basically a ‘wife’ joke. And then he called Will Smith’s wife Jada, G I Jane because – a tasteless reference to her bald head.
Smith then proceeds to walk on to the stage and hits Rock; goes back to his seat and yells at Rock; even asks him to “keep my wife’s name the f**k out of your mouth”.
What just happened!
Did that really happen?
Was this scripted? People were wondering about this – was it a spontaneous losing-of-sh*t situation or was it orchestrated?
According to some social media reports, this did not appear to be scripted because this didn’t happen during rehearsals the previous day
If this was indeed not scripted, props to Rock for seeming to take it in his stride and continuing as before.
If Smith has such a short fuse that an admittedly offensive joke makes him violent – while on live TV – this does make us question his anger/impulse-control issues.
People noticed how Smith seemed to be laughing at the joke before he realised how upset his wife was with that; then proceeded to storm on stage to smack Rock.
According to reports, Rock said he would not file a complaint against Smith for the assault.
Denzel Washington, Bradley Cooper and Tyler Perry were seen trying to calm down Smith soon after the slapping incident. Washington is said to have offered wise counsel.
Will Smith also won the award for Best Actor soon after his unseemly loss of control.
Smith was seen apologising for this violent behaviour – to pretty much every one except Rock. His was the classic non-apology the “sorry if you were offended” or “sorry but I was driven to it” and so on.
Chris Rock’s joke was tasteless and it wasn’t funny. However, what Will Smith did is assault – plain and simple. To try to explain away his actions as defence of his loved ones, or being swayed by the moment are simply excuses… as such these are unacceptable. Smith couldn’t even bring himself to tender a proper apology. Unfortunately for him, what should have been his proudest moment was overshadowed by his violent loss of control. The Oscar Awards 2022 will always be the one where Will Smith slapped Chris Rock.
Unlike Men in Black, there is no way to make people forget this incident. Unfortunately for him, what should have been his proudest moment was overshadowed by his violent loss of control. The Oscar Awards 2022 will always be the one where Will Smith slapped Chris Rock.
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