Drama at the Oscars as Will Smith slaps host Chris Rock in defence of wife

There was drama on stage last night at the 94th Academy Awards, as Best Actor winner Will Smith later apologised having slapped host Chris Rock live on stage.

Viewers across the world and the famous faces in attendance were stunned when Smith reacted angrily to a joke from Rock about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.

Jada shaved her head in 2018 having been diagnosed with alopecia.

While in the middle of presenting the award for Best Documentary, host Rock took the opportunity to make jokes about some of the famous couples in attendance.

“You know who's got the hardest job tonight? Javier Bardem and his wife are both nominated. Now if she loses, he can't win! He is praying that Will Smith wins, like please, Lord! Jada, I love you. GI Jane 2, can’t wait to see it.”

For context, the film GI Jane featured Demi Moore playing a US Navy Seal, in which Moore sports a shaved head.

Will Smith is believed to have initially laughed at the joke, but his wife was less than impressed and seem to roll her eyes.

It was then that Smith arose from his seat and moved toward the stage, before punching Rock and swearing at him in an almost surreal moment.

Trying to make light of the situation, Rock uttered “Will Smith just smacked the s**t out of me”, but the comedy was not felt as Smith roared at Rock: “Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth.”

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 show got back underway after a rather tense few moments, with Smith, who won the award for Best Lead Actor for his performance in Little Richard, later apologising for the incident.

“To the Academy, I want to apologise to all my fellow nominees. Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams. Love will make you do crazy things.

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.

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 28, 2022

Thank you for this moment, and thank you on behalf of Richard and Oracene and the Williams family. I hope the Academy invites me back.”

Everyone at the Oscar’s when Will Smith assaulted Chris Rock on national television #Oscars pic.twitter.com/VX7EzFyJ22

— LORRAKON (@LORRAKON) March 28, 2022

The big winner on the night was Dune, the sci-fi epic scoring six Academy Awards, much of which were in the technical categories, while there was also a nod for best score for the legendary Hans Zimmer.

CODA also won big on the night, taking the Best Picture gong, while Troy Kutsur became the first deaf male actor to win an Oscar.

Jane Campion became just the third female director to win Best Director for Power of the Dog, while Kenneth Brannagh took home Best Original Screenplay in the only nod of the night for the widely-nominated Belfast.

Jessica Chastain took Best Lead Actress for her performance in In The Eyes of Tammy Faye while Ariana DeBose from West Side Story was Best Supporting Actress.

Here are the winners in full:

Best Picture
CODA

Best Director
Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog

Actress in a Leading Role
Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye

Actor in a Leading Role
Will Smith, King Richard

Actress in a Supporting Role
Ariana DeBose, West Side Story

Actor in a Supporting Role
Troy Kotsur, CODA

Best International Feature Film
Drive My Car, Japan

Best Documentary Feature
Summer of Soul, Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson, Joseph Patel, Robert Fyvolent, David Dinerstein

Best Animated Feature Film
Encanto, Jared Bush, Byron Howard, Yvett Merino, Clark Spencer

Best Original Screenplay
Belfast, Kenneth Branagh

Best Adapted Screenplay
CODA, Sian Heder