Will Smith Wins First Oscar After Slapping Chris Rock

A screengrab of the slap from the Oscars' live broadcast.

Diddy Says Beef Between the Duo Has Already Been Squashed

What did the five fingers say to the face?

Comedian Chris Rock, 57, found out that times may have changed, but the answer to the old punchline remains the same.

While performing a comedy bit during the Oscars Sunday night, the Grammy winner made a joke about actress Jada Pinkett Smith, which did not go over well with her Oscar-nominated husband Will.

Seconds later, the 53-year-old rapper-turned-actor charged the stage and delivered a stinging rebuke — in the form of a pimp-slap during the live broadcast.

Following the altercation, clearly stunned, Rock said, “Will Smith just smacked the s—t out of me."

Smith, who had returned to his seat, yelled at Rock to"Keep my wife's name out your f—ing mouth!

The full uncensored moment from Japanese TV. WILL SMITH hits Chris Rock on the Oscars stage for making a joke about his wife, minutes before winning Best Actor. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/KonRha0fc9

— All The Right Movies (@ATRightMovies) March 28, 2022

Celebrities in the audience as well as those following along at home seemed not to know how to react at first, but the dawning realization that the slap was real and not a bit between the two usually amicable celebrities set in fast. 

The reactions to the Will Smith slap from the Oscars crowd pic.twitter.com/Is16WdJrOd

— FABULOUS ONE GREEN (@IdentifyAsHulk) March 28, 2022

Lupita Nyong’s reaction to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock in 4 stages:
1. This is a funny sketch
2. Why is he screaming
3. Oh shit he’s being serious
4. Act normal pic.twitter.com/V3lHrbeiGL

— Jamie B (@JamieBolton) March 28, 2022

Please tell me I didn’t see what I just saw. Somebody please tell me that @willsmith was joking and it was part of the show when he just smacked @chrisrock on National Television. I’m begging y’all….please don’t tell me @willsmith would do something like that???

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 28, 2022

So, what got the artist formerly known as The Fresh Prince all riled up?

Until Smith makes his thoughts known on the subject, one can only speculate. The incident, however, did take place moments after Rock joked about his wife looking like “G.I. Jane.” 

“Jada, I love ya. GI Jane 2, can’t wait to see it,” Rock said. The joke was an obvious one but probably one best left out of the routine, considering that Pinkett Smith has spoken openly about having alopecia (a hair-loss condition) and the physical and mental stress it has caused in her life.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jada Pinkett Smith (@jadapinkettsmith)

Regardless of why it happened, it seems that the two have managed to squash the beef. Rock refused to file a police report with the Los Angeles Police Department. Shortly after the dustup, Smith won the best actor Oscar for his portrayal of Venus and Serena Williams’ father in “King Richard," and Sean “Diddy” Combs confirmed to Page Six  Sunday night at the Vanity Fair Oscar party that the duo had already made amends.

“That’s not a problem. That’s over. I can confirm that,” Diddy, 52, said.

"It’s all love,” he added. “They’re brothers.”

Official LAPD statement on the Will Smith x Chris Rock incident:

"The individual involved has declined to file a police report. If the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report." pic.twitter.com/cgzD9UPUlF

— Tony • GMA (@THETonyMorrison) March 28, 2022

Smith, who apologized to everyone except Rock, in his speech following his first-ever Oscar win, definitely seemed to be over it. He celebrated the night away, dancing and singing along to some of his biggest hits as a musician. 

Will Smith is at the #VanityFairOscarParty dancing with his Oscar to ‘Gettin Jiggy With It.’ pic.twitter.com/PvKrRICQEN

— Ramin Setoodeh (@RaminSetoodeh) March 28, 2022