Will Smith ‘slaps’ Chris Rock at Oscars 2022

Actor Will Smith has shocked the star-studded Oscars audience after appearing to slap comedian Chris Rock, who had made a comment about the actor’s wife.

The King Richard star, who later nabbed his first Oscar for best actor, was angered after Rock took a jab at Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head.

Pinkett Smith has previously spoken out about her struggles with alopecia, a condition which causes hair loss.

In a moment that has become the major talking point of this year’s Oscars, Smith stormed the stage and lashed out at Rock after the comedian remarked Pinkett Smith could be in G.I. Jane with her shaved head.

Watch: Will Smith slapped Chris Rock onstage at the Oscars after taking offense to a joke he told about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith https://t.co/Or2veMdKpb pic.twitter.com/Ed7XmDDsvU

— TIME (@TIME) March 28, 2022

The crowd of Hollywood stars were stunned by the move, unsure whether or not it was a joke.

But it soon became apparent Smith had taken offence to the comment as he yelled: “Keep my wife’s name out of your [expletive] mouth.”

The actor later apologised to the Academy during his tearful Oscar acceptance speech.

“I want to apologise to the Academy. I want to apologise 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.”

The Academy later tweeted it “does not condone violence of any form”.

“Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world,” it said.

READ MORE: Will Smith and Michael B. Jordan team up for I Am Legend sequel

List of Oscar winners

Actor in a leading role: Will Smith, King Richard

Actor in a supporting role: Troy Kotsur, CODA

Actress in a leading role: Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Actress in a supporting role: Ariana Debose, West Side Story

Animated feature film: Encanto

Cinematography: Greig Fraser, Dune

Costume design: Jenny Beavan, Cruella

Directing: Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog

Documentary (short subject): The Queen of Basketball

Film editing: Joe Walker, Dune

International feature film: Drive My Car

Makeup and hairstyling: Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram and Justin Raleigh; The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Music (original score): Hans Zimmer, Dune

Music (original song): Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell, No Time To Die

Best picture: CODA

Production design: Patrice Vermette and Zsuzsanna Sipos, Dune

Short film (animated): The Windshield Wiper

Short film (live action): The Long Goodbye

Sound: Mac Ruth, Mark Mangini, Theo Green, Doug Hemphill and Ron Bartlett; Dune

Visual effects: Paul Lambert, Tristan Myles, Brian Connor and Gerd Nefzer; Dune

Writing (adapted screenplay): Siân Heder, CODA

Writing (original screenplay): Kenneth Branagh, Belfast

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