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‘Choose chaos’ – Will Smith’s self-fulfilling statement hours before Oscars slap

Daisy Jackson - 28th March 2022

TV history was made in the early hours of this morning, when Will Smith hopped up on stage at the Oscars to slap Chris Rock in the face.

Comedian Rock, who was presenting the 94th Academy Awards, had made a joke comparing Jada Pinkett-Smith to GI Jane (Pinkett-Smith has alopecia, a condition that can cause hair to fall out, and sports a buzz cut).

Will Smith initially appeared to laugh while his wife visibly rolled her eyes.

A visibly angry Will Smith at the Oscars, with Lupita Nyong’o staring in shock

But Smith, who went on to win the Oscar for Best Actor, then stormed up to Rock to deliver a firm slap across his face.

After returning to his seat, he shouted twice: “Keep my wife’s name out your f***ing mouth.”

Rock replies: “I’m going to, okay?” before falling into a brief stunned silence and saying: “That was the greatest night in the history of television.”

If you’re confused about what the hell just happened at the #Oscars between Will Smith and Chris Rock, here’s the unedited version pic.twitter.com/VGv0o8IvMk
— Hannah Jane Parkinson (@ladyhaja) March 28, 2022

Neither Will Smith nor his wife Jada have addressed the incident on social media yet, but Will’s post before they headed to the star-studded bash ended up almost predicting what would later unfold.

Alongside a video of them dressed up in their black tie gear, he wrote: “Me ‘n @jadapinkettsmith got all dressed up to choose chaos.”

The Academy has now issued a brief statement about the drama that unfolded.

They wrote: “The Academy 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.”

Featured image: Instagram, Will Smith