Watch Video| Oscars 2022: Will Smith Punches Chris Rock Over Joke About Wife; Apologises As Netizens Remain Confused

Los Angeles: Will Smith stormed the Oscars stage and struck comedian Chris Rock across the face for joking about his wife, in a moment at Sunday’s gala that immediately went viral and left stunned viewers questioning if it had been scripted or genuine.

Referring to Pinkett Smith’s shaved hairdo, Rock said: “Jada, can’t wait for GI Jane 2.”

Smith walked up on stage and appeared to strike Rock before returning to his seat and shouting: “Keep my wife’s name out of your… mouth.”

In his emotional speech soon after, a tearful Will Smith apologised – although not directly to Chris Rock. “I want to apologize to the Academy. I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees. This is a beautiful moment and I’m not crying for winning an award. It’s not about winning an award for me. It’s about being able to shine a light on all of the people,” he said, “Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams. Love will make you do crazy things.”

In a loaded speech, Will Smith said, “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 and you got to pretend like that’s okay.”

Damn. So did Will Smith just punch Chris Rock for real? Here is a Japanese network’s uncensored exchange between Will Smith and Chris Rock. #Oscars #WillSmith pic.twitter.com/fjqgypVdue

— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) March 28, 2022

Will Smith also revealed what fellow Best Actor nominee Denzel Washington told him in the commercial break after the altercation with Chris Rock. ““Thank you, Dee. Denzel said a few minutes ago, ‘At your highest moment, be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you,’” Will Smith said.

#badboys3 #gijane2 #willsmith #chrisrock #oscars #besttvever

Can't believe what I just saw live on screen pic.twitter.com/YiijPRQENt

— Guy Springthorpe (the pistol slug) (@GuySpringthorpe) March 28, 2022

Social media was confused about whether or not the altercation was a planned skit. It soon became cl\ear that it wasn’t and reactions flooded Twitter. One tweet read, “One thing about me… Imma keep Will Smith’s wife’s name out my mouth. #whatjusthappened #WillSmith #Oscars”