Oscars 2022: Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock After Jada Pinkett Smith Dig

Don’t mess with Will Smith.

Chris Rock learned that lesson during the Oscars 2022 ceremony on Sunday, March 27, when the King Richard star—who is nominated in the Best Actor category—confronted him onstage after he had made a dig at Jada Pinkett Smith, who struggles with alopecia. The heated exchange came after Rock, 57, made a reference to Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, joking, “Jada, I love you. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it, all right?”

As the audience fell silent, Rock quipped, “That was a nice one, okay?”

Smith then marched to the stage and appeared to slap the comedian in the face. When he returned to his seat, the 53-year-old actor screamed at Rock, “Keep my wife’s name out of your f–king mouth!”

The confrontation ended with Rock awkwardly segueing to the Best Documentary segment, saying, “That was a greatest night in the history of television.”

An eyewitness tells E! News that several celebrities—including Denzel Washington, Tyler Perry and Lupita Nyong’o—went to comfort the couple following the incident. In video captured by The Hollywood Reporter columnist Scott Feinberg, Will appeared to wipe something from his eye after speaking guests during a commercial break. He was then approached by Bradley Cooper, who wrapped his arms around Smith as they spoke in the crowd.