The Oscars Turned Into The Real Housewives With Will Smith Slapping Chris Rock, As Viewers Tune Out

The Oscars Turned Into The Real Housewives With Will Smith Slapping Chris Rock, As Viewers Tune Out
Mary Madigan
By Mary Madigan



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.

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.

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.

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.”




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