The slap heard around the world was heard even louder in Australia, with Aussie broadcasters not so quick to hit the mute button.
While American audiences were treated to silence, Australians heard the whole interaction between Chris Rock and Will Smith at the 2022 Oscars.
In case you are living under a rock, Smith slapped Rock after he made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, looking like, “GI Jane!” A reference to her bald head.
Now, it’s unclear if Rock realised that the reason Pinkett Smith was rocking the bald look is that she suffers from alopecia, but Smith’s reaction was assumed because Pinkett Smith suffers from the disease, therefore, he found the joke offensive.
Smith slapped Rock, went back to his seat and then screamed twice, “Keep my wife’s name out of your fucking mouth!”
American audiences were left to try and lip-read, but Australians heard Smith’s words loud and clear.
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
Rock looked genuinely shocked, and suddenly the internet was lit up like a Christmas Tree.
Smith’s son Jaden then tweeted, “And that’s how we do it,” suggesting he was standing by his father committing assault while on live television.
And That’s How We Do It
— Jaden (@jaden) March 28, 2022
Interestingly, while you’d assume assault would mean everyone would condemn Smith’s actions, the internet was pretty divided on the issue.
Of course, there were also some hilarious tweets as well; even Mr Home Improvement himself, Tim Allen weighed in.
If Mel Gibson slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars he would be locked up right now. #Oscars
— Hodgetwins (@hodgetwins) March 28, 2022
It’s not ok to come up on stage and hit a dude cause you don’t like the humor. It’s not ok at a Comedy Club, concert hall or hosting some cheeseball award show. Chris Rock is a stand up comedian and a standup guy who carried on. I think I would have run.
— Tim Allen (@ofctimallen) March 28, 2022
I will accept Will Smith slapping Chris Rock for a joke if the rest of us are allowed to slap actors for boring political speeches.
— Jim Norton (@JimNorton) March 28, 2022
all in all, I think so far I've done a very smooth job in my job as producer of the academy awards
— David Sims (@davidlsims) March 28, 2022
Fair play. The new Bel-Air *is* grittier
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) March 28, 2022
Will Smith started his Oscar campaign by saying “I puke every time I cum” and ended it by punching Chris Rock on live television, an undeniable legend
— AJ Moser (@Radmure) March 28, 2022
richard williams taught me to protect my family and that love will make you do crazy things, absolute goated excuse for assaulting someone on live tv, let him get away with it
— Josh Lewis (@thejoshl) March 28, 2022
Me waking up and seeing why Will Smith is trending. pic.twitter.com/KtrwCCJslZ
— Sooz Kempner (@SoozUK) March 28, 2022
All these people freaking out about will smith’s toxic and violent slap would simply die from an episode of Real Housewives
— Patrick Lenton (@PatrickLenton) March 28, 2022
Will Smith punches a man in the face for an offensive joke about his wife: hero, legend, amazing
Trans people criticize a joke that mocks and demeans our existence: sensitive, weak, ridiculous
— Samantha Lux (she/her) (@_samanthalux) March 28, 2022
https://twitter.com/BenjaminEnfield/status/1508579891897376777
Ridiculous analogy
Putin has slaughtered innocents. Chris Rock made a joke – albeit a very bad one. Will Smith not a proportional response.
And having worked in a women’s refuge I find the justification that “love makes you do crazy things” (ie be violent) both wrong & dangerous https://t.co/R26RpqcVKI— Magda Szubanski AO (@MagdaSzubanski) March 28, 2022
So did all of this craziness bring in actual numbers? Well, in America 15.4 million viewers watched the Oscars, which is a considerable improvement from 2021, a 56 per cent improvement, but even with the slap, it’s still the second lowest-rated Academy Awards.
Locally, Seven’s coverage of the 94th Annual Academy Awards averaged 623,000 viewers, total viewers, nationally yesterday live bought in 371,000 viewers, which was up from 2021’s 282,000 live viewers.
Of course, The Academy Awards have come out and declared they would be investigating the matter, and so far, Rock hasn’t pressed charges, but the slap will live on forever.
Sadly, the slap outshone the night’s big wins like Coda winning best movie and Jessica Chastine winning best actress.
Interestingly, Smith has apologised to Rock now via Instagram, where he wrote, “Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive.
“My behaviour at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.
“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”
