Many Are Increasingly Convinced That Will Smith’s Oscar Slap Was Staged Following The Emergence Of New Evidence

Note: This story was originally reported in March 2022.

In a surprising incident at the Academy Awards on Sunday night, Will Smith, a prominent figure in Hollywood, created a stir with an unexpected confrontation involving comedian Chris Rock. This moment quickly became a global talking point after Rock made a controversial joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, during their on-stage exchange. As the video of the incident went viral, discussions arose around whether it was a genuine reaction or a carefully orchestrated stunt.

The situation escalated when a slowed-down version of the incident began circulating on social media, raising doubts about its authenticity. One Twitter user claimed that Chris Rock appeared to anticipate the slap, stating, “His hand barely touched him. Actors like Will Smith know how to fake a punch. This looks staged.”

The online discourse became sharply divided. User @DogeDontPlay questioned the significance of the Oscars, noting, “The Oscars feel irrelevant, yet it’s all anyone is discussing today. Interesting.” Conversely, @RealCobraLily argued, “This suggests it was staged! Chris seemed to pull back his head early. If Smith made contact, it was minimal, looking like a rehearsed performance.”

While some viewers believed the slap was a set-up, others defended its authenticity. One commenter asked skeptics to provide reasons for staging such an event. Notably, @ClayTravis praised Chris Rock, saying, “Honestly, Rock taking a hit live from someone much larger and continuing with the show is incredibly impressive.”

The incident began when Rock joked about Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, referencing the movie “G.I. Jane 2,” which starred Demi Moore as a Navy SEAL candidate with a shaved head. Pinkett Smith has been open about her struggle with alopecia areata, a condition she was diagnosed with in 2018.

Following the altercation, Will Smith returned to the stage not to address the incident but to accept his first Academy Award for portraying Richard Williams, the father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, in “King Richard.” In his emotional acceptance speech, Smith apologized to many but notably left out Chris Rock.

As the fallout from this unexpected Oscars moment continues to unfold, reports indicate that Rock has chosen not to pursue legal action, according to the Los Angeles police. This surprising encounter has left audiences intrigued, raising more questions than answers about the nature of the confrontation.