South Africans have flooded social media with reactions to actor Will Smith confronting comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards.
The drama started when Rock cracked a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, on stage.
Speaking about her bald head, Rock referenced the 1997 movie G.I. Jane.
Pinkett Smith recently revealed that she suffers from alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes hair to fall out.
Smith at first appeared to laugh but then walked onto the stage and appeared to slap Rock.
“Will Smith just smacked the sh*t out of me,” Rock said.
Back in his seat, Smith shouted back: “Keep my wife’s name out of your f**king mouth.”
Scripted or ‘standing up for his wife’? — SA reacts to Will Smith giving Chris Rock a ‘warm klap’
Image: REUTERS/Brian Snyder
South Africans have flooded social media with reactions to actor Will Smith confronting comedian Chris Rock at the 2022 Academy Awards.
The drama started when Rock cracked a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, on stage.
Speaking about her bald head, Rock referenced the 1997 movie G.I. Jane.
Pinkett Smith recently revealed that she suffers from alopecia, an autoimmune disease that causes hair to fall out.
Smith at first appeared to laugh but then walked onto the stage and appeared to slap Rock.
“Will Smith just smacked the sh*t out of me,” Rock said.
Back in his seat, Smith shouted back: “Keep my wife’s name out of your f**king mouth.”
Smith later apologised to the Academy when he tearfully accepted the Oscar for best actor for his portrayal of the father of Venus and Serena Williams in King Richard.
“Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family,” Smith said.
The last thing he said before he took his seat was: “I hope the Academy invites me back.”
The confrontation soon went viral, with many on social media claiming it was scripted.
Most weighed in on Smith’s reaction. Some said he was right to defend his wife, while others said it was “just a joke”.
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