After the fiasco around “La La Land” in 2017, another sequence of the Oscars will remain engraved in the memory of the spectators. Last night, just before receiving his best actor statuette, Will Smith hit Chris Rock live on stage at the Oscars. The LAPD responded soon after.
Oscars 2022: Will Smith hits Chris Rock
Just before going on stage to collect the statuette of the best actor for his role in The Williams Method, Will Smith caused amazement at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. Indeed, during the 2022 Oscars ceremony, the actor took the stage and hit comedian Chris Rock live.
The reason for this insane gesture? A Bad Chris Rock Joke, who alluded to Jada Pinkett Smith’s haircut, saying she “was ready for GI Jane 2.” Indeed, the latter had declared in 2021 to be suffering from alopecia (alopecia areata), an autoimmune disease that caused her to lose her hair.
The sequence can be seen below:
You’d think this footage was set up, but after returning to his seat, Will Smith yelled
Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth!
However, the use of the term “fucking” (“whore”) is extremely frowned upon on American television. Such a joke could not have been integrated, especially in a ceremony as stuffy as the Oscars.
The Academy reacted ago a few minutes, saying she did not “tolerate any form of violence”. Which definitively buries the possibility of a prepared sketch.
After receiving the Best Actor Oscar, Will Smith tearfully said:
Richard Williams was a staunch defender of his family. I am overwhelmed by what is happening to me. Love makes you do crazy things. My vocation is to love people and to protect them and to be an anchor for my loved ones. In this job, some will disrespect you and you have to smile, act like it’s normal. Denzel Washington just said to me, “Watch out the devil always comes in moments of triumph.” I hope the Oscars will invite me back.
LAPD launches investigation
Shortly after the gesture, Los Angeles police said they had opened an investigation into this incident. The tweet clarifies that Chris Rock has not filed a complaint.
But this gesture should follow Will Smith for many years. And taint the first Oscar of his career.
