The main scandal of the Academy Awards 2022: Will Smith hit host Chris Rock for joking about his wife

Juliette Morgan
The main scandal of the Academy Awards 2022: Will Smith hit host Chris Rock for joking about his wife

Will Smith hit the host of the last Academy Award ceremony, Chris Rock, who unsuccessfully joked about his wife Jada Pinkett-Smith.

The actor came to the ceremony accompanied by his wife Jada, who appeared in a lush dark green dress with a train and a short haircut. It was the hairstyle that became the reason for the joke of the presenter. Before announcing the winner in the nomination "Best documentary", Chris Rock stated:

Jada, I love you. I can't wait for Soldier Jane 2 to be released.

The joke exasperated Will Smith: he went up on stage and hit the presenter in the face. At this point, the broadcast stopped. Already sitting in the hall, the actor shouted loudly that he should not dare to speak out about his wife.

Don't say her name with your filthy mouth—" he said. The guests in the hall reacted violently to his words, and the presenter noticed that this was just a joke.

Will Smith later apologized for the incident when he took to the stage for his award, which he received in the Best Actor category for the film "King Richard".

According to Variety, Chris Rock did not continue the conflict and is not going to report the actor to the police. However, not everyone believed in the sincerity of the conflict — the media suspected that all this was arranged to raise the ratings of the award, which were too low in recent years.

The organizers have already commented on the incident:

The Academy does not approve of violence in any form," the official Twitter says.

Will Smith's patience could burst for a reason — Chris Rock jokes about Judd not for the first time. In 2016, Jada published a video in which she announced her intention to boycott the Oscars together with her husband due to the fact that there are too few black nominees. After that, Chris Rock joked at the ceremony that she did not come simply because she was not invited.

The hair issue is quite painful for Jada Pinkett-Smith. For many years, the woman has been suffering from alopecia — and at first it was hard for her. But then Will Smith's wife managed to accept it.

Now I can only laugh at it—" she confessed to reporters.

More in the section Celebrity

Celebrity

Sydney Sweeney posed topless in diamond earrings

The actress poses wearing only earrings.

Celebrity

Katy Perry has confirmed her romance with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The singer's lover went on tour with her.

Celebrity

Kate Middleton and Prince William attended Christmas service with their children.

Kate Middleton met with Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet.

Celebrity

Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry met with the former Japanese Prime Minister

Katy Perry visited Japan with her new lover.

Celebrity

Prince Harry appeared on a TV show and joked about his Hollywood connections thanks to Meghan Markle.

The couple have been living in the United States for several years.

Celebrity

"A knife in the heart." Kim Kardashian admitted that her ex-husband Kanye West accused her of staging a robbery in Paris.

In 2016, Kim Kardashian had jewelry worth approximately 10 million euros stolen.

Celebrity

"It's about our child's safety." Singer Vlad Sokolovsky admitted he's been threatened with kidnapping his three-year-old son.

He and his wife have been receiving threats for three years.

Celebrity

Kate Middleton, wearing Princess Diana's earrings, and Prince William visited an exhibition at Windsor Castle.

The princess appeared in public with her husband.

Celebrity

Kate Winslet appeared in public with her 21-year-old son, who has begun a film career.

The actress presented her directorial debut, filmed based on her son's script.

Celebrity

Matthew Perry's doctor has been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for the actor's drug-related death.

The first of those charged in the death of Matthew Perry has been sentenced.

Celebrity

Sydney Sweeney posed topless in diamond earrings

Celebrity

Katy Perry has confirmed her romance with former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Celebrity

Kate Middleton and Prince William attended Christmas service with their children.

Celebrity

Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry met with the former Japanese Prime Minister

Celebrity

Prince Harry appeared on a TV show and joked about his Hollywood connections thanks to Meghan Markle.

Celebrity

"A knife in the heart." Kim Kardashian admitted that her ex-husband Kanye West accused her of staging a robbery in Paris.

Celebrity

"It's about our child's safety." Singer Vlad Sokolovsky admitted he's been threatened with kidnapping his three-year-old son.

Celebrity

Kate Middleton, wearing Princess Diana's earrings, and Prince William visited an exhibition at Windsor Castle.

Celebrity

Kate Winslet appeared in public with her 21-year-old son, who has begun a film career.

Celebrity

Matthew Perry's doctor has been sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for the actor's drug-related death.

Celebrity

Gwyneth Paltrow and her husband, Dakota Johnson, Jennifer Lopez (with cleavage) and daughter Meryl Streep at The Hollywood Reporter gala

Celebrity

Anna Peresild and Vanya Dmitrienko appeared together at the Yandex Music Year in Review awards.

Celebrity

"Saccharine hypocrisy." Online critics criticize Meghan Markle's Christmas cooking show.

Celebrity

Sati Kazanova showed off her grown-up daughter, whom she gave birth to at 42 years old with her Italian husband.

Celebrity

The "Dolina Scheme" was named the most negative event of 2025.

Celebrity

Kate Middleton (in her "old" outfit), Prince William, King Charles III and Queen Camilla met with the German President in Windsor

Celebrity

Lindsay Lohan was photographed with her son and husband in Miami.

Celebrity

Kendall and Kris Jenner, Heidi Klum, Helen Mirren, and Gillian Anderson at the L'Oreal Paris Gala

Celebrity

Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney in low-cut dresses at the premiere of "Maid"

Celebrity

"These are from my grandmother's Christmas tree." Online discussions are underway about "Soviet" Christmas tree decorations by Dior designer Jonathan Anderson.