In a seemingly unscripted moment that stunned viewers and onlookers alike, Will Smith strode onstage and punched Chris Rock in the face after the comedian made a joke about the actor’s wife while presenting the Best Documentary Award at the Oscars.
Rock joked that Smith’s wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith, was in “GI Jane 2,” seemingly a reference to her cropped hair. Pinkett Smith has said she has alopecia, a condition that leads to hair loss.
Smith yelled and cursed at Rock after he returned to his seat, demanding that Rock not talk about his wife.
During the heated exchange, the broadcast fell silent on many screens, creating confusion about what had happened and what had been said.
Rock, a host of the show, had joked during a mini monologue when he came in contact with actors and their husbands.
“Javier Bardem and his wife are both nominated,” Rock said. “If she loses now, he can’t win.”
“He prays Will Smith win, please, my lord,” Rock continued. ‘Jada, I love you. “GI Jane 2, I can’t wait to see it, okay?”
The camera turned to Smith, who at first appeared to be smiling. But the joke was met with lukewarmness, prompting Rock to add, “That was a fun one!”
Jada Pinkett Smith immediately rolled her eyes at the joke and her husband was soon out of his chair. Smith walked down the runway to the podium.
“Oh-oh,” said Rock. Smith approached and hit Rock; the impact could be heard through his microphone.
Uncensored broadcasts of the broadcast outside the United States showed that after being punched, in an effort to keep the mood light, Rock acknowledged that Smith had “punched” him, using an expletive to describe how hard he had been hit. .
Back in his seat, Smith said to Rock, “Keep my wife’s name out of your damn mouth!”
Rock replied, “Wow dude, it was a ‘GI Jane’ joke.”
Smith then repeated his demand.
Rock looked shocked and said, “That was the best night in television history,” then went on to award the Oscar for Documentary to “Summer of Soul.”