Oscars 2022: Will Smith, Chris Rock and Jada Pinkett Smith row moment by moment

Will Smith slapping Chris Rock around the face for making a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head at the Oscars sent shockwaves around the world on Sunday. 

The jaw-dropping moment took place moments after Rock arrived on stage to present the award for Best Documentary Feature.

It all kicked off when Rock, 57, pointed to Smith, 53, and his wife, quipping: ‘Jada, I love ya. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it.’

At that point, the camera turned to Smith, who at first was seen visibly laughing at the gag and even clapped his hands, a gesture that seemed to suggest he saw the funny side. 

But as Smith laughed while still seated, Pinkett Smith – who has been open about her struggle with hair loss and alopecia – visibly rolled her eyes, looking furious. 

The slap: Moment Will Smith stormed the stage at the 94th Academy Awards and assaulted comedian Chris Rock who had just made fun of his wife Jada Pinkett Smith 

‘That was a nice one!’ Rock then said on stage, justifying his joke as a mild one.

However, in the seconds that the camera had cut-away, Smith then jumped from his seat and stormed the stage as Rock was heard saying: ‘Uh-oh…’   

This is when the world saw King Richard star Smith – who would later collect an Oscar for Best Actor – approach Rock and promptly slap him across the face.

Looking good: As Chris Rock walked out onstage, Will Smith was seen smiling, in a jovial mood

Pointed dig: Chris held out his hand to point at Will and Jada as he made the joke, ‘Jada, I love ya. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it.’

Laughs: At this point, Will was seen laughing at the joke and did not seem offended

Stony-faced: However, Will’s wife Jada – who has been open about her hair loss and struggle with alopecia – began to roll her eyes 

Not amused: Jada, 50, continued to roll her eyes but Will, 53, was still laughing and even clapped his hands at the remark 

‘Wow,’ Rock could be heard saying after the assault. ‘Will Smith just smacked the s**t out of me.’

In footage that had been uncensored, Smith was heard saying: ‘Keep my wife’s name out your f***king mouth.’

Actress Lupita Nyong’o, who was sitting near Smith, could be seen visibly confused at what had just happened as some audience members were left wondering if it had been part of some pre-arranged skit.

Taking risks: Chris seemed pleased with how the joke had gone down, telling the crowd it was a ‘nice’ one 

Smile before the storm: Chris was seen laughing until he told the crowd, ‘Uh-oh,’ suggesting trouble was afoot 

Making his way: Will jumped up on the stage in a brisk manner heading straight towards Chris

What the world saw: Will was seen clearly taking a swing at Chris, and slapping him across the face

‘Wow,’ Rock could be heard saying after the assault. ‘Will Smith just smacked the s**t out of me.’

But as Will made his foul-mouthed tirade, Nyong’o’s expression quickly turned serious.  

The exchange was muted on a delayed telecast in much of the US, but was aired in full to some international audiences. 

After being slapped, Rock appeared shocked and flustered as he tried to resume presenting the best documentary feature category.

Aftermath: Smith was then seen heading back to his seat

Shaken: Rock looked understandably shocked as Smith walked away 

Back to his seat: Smith kept a poker face while returning to his wife

Keep calm and carry on: Rock continued to present the award for Best Documentary Feature

‘That was the greatest night in the history of television,’ Rock said, before awkwardly returning to presenting best documentary, which went to Questlove’s ‘Summer of Soul (…or When the Revolution Was Not Televised).’

Rapper Diddy was the next person on stage to acknowledge the fall-out as he said: ‘Will, Chris, we are gonna solve that like a family at the gold party. For now, we will move on with love.’

Later, Smith opened his acceptance speech with an emotional defense of his assault on Rock for mocking the short hair of Pinkett Smith, who suffers from a medical condition that causes hair loss.

A different composure: Smith then looked visibly agitated while some of the audiences members (including Lupita Nyong’o) were seemingly confused by the scuffle 

Shocked: Actress Lupita could be seen visibly stunned as she began to understand the severity of the situation 

In footage that had been uncensored, Smith was heard saying: ‘Keep my wife’s name out your f***king mouth.’

Eyes front: Stars around Smith began to realise what they had just witness was real 

‘Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family,’ Smith said in his first remarks. He continued: ‘I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people.’

Smith went on to issue a tearful partial apology for his emotional outburst, but did not apologize to Rock. ‘I want to apologize to the Academy, I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees. This is a beautiful moment,’ he said.

‘Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father’ said Smith. ‘But love will make you do crazy things.’

‘That was the greatest night in the history of television,’ Rock said, before awkwardly returning to presenting best documentary

Shock: The comedian was understandably flustered by the assault 

Late Sunday night, the LAPD issued a statement saying that Rock had not filed a police report against Smith, but that if he chooses to do so, police will investigate.

‘LAPD investigative entities are aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards program,’ the statement said. ‘The incident involved one individual slapping another.’

It was not immediately clear whether the Academy would penalize Smith in any way for his outburst.

After the incident: Will and Jada hold hands as his name is called out for his Best Actor win

Emotional: Will began to cry as he talked about his role of King William, and made reference to his earlier brawl with Chris

‘Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family,’ Smith said in his first remarks. He continued: ‘I’m being called on in my life to love people and to protect people and to be a river to my people.’