If Will Smith really landed that roundhouse right, Chris Rock would be spitting teeth

[Stinky The Clown]

Instead, after the verbal theatrics, Chris Rock just went back to reading awards.

I'm pretty sure they punked everyone.

[Marcuse]

1. Improv.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

2. Open-handed slap.

Not a knuckle-sandwich.

[Eyeball_Kid]

4. Yes.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. Sorry. Could have been.

I still think it was a setup.

We found videos from Japanese and Australian TV to listen to the shouting.

Keep in mind, Chris Rock and the Smiths are close friends of many years' standing.

[Doc Sportello]

11. If you were watching you would know

It was not fake. From Smith's acceptance speech, to Denzel talking to Smith and his wife afterward afterward to Amy Schumer making a joke about how the mood in the room changed when she was backstage changing. It was all uncomfortable.

[Stinky The Clown]

13. Doc Doc Doc. Chill

[Doc Sportello]

14. I'm fine

Just pointed out that there were several other elements on the show demonstrating it wasn't a prank.

[Stinky The Clown]

15. I hope you don't watch professional wrestling.

jk

[Doc Sportello]

17. Stinky: Let it go

It's time for you to chill.

[Stinky The Clown]

28. Y'ever see a cat with a fluffy toy . . . . .

. . . . the cat's not hatin' it.

[Doc Sportello]

3. Did you not see Smith's speech?

He apologized for it. Not to Rock but to the Academy.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

5. That was all part of the prank!

Smith and Rock are playing the long game!

[Stinky The Clown]

10. Not watching

Read about it here.

Found a brazilian videos.

Read it as bullshit.

Posted here.

[Ocelot II]

6. It looked like a slap, not a punch.

[BlackSkimmer]

8. He slapped him.

Pretty sure it was real.

Smith cried like a baby trying to weasel out of it.

Thank god for Lady Gaga showing what real dignity and class is.

[LizBeth]

9. Denzel Washington side stage with Smith comforting him then later Jada.

Rock throws out an appearance-shaming joke at the woman's expense. Rock is an ass.

[flying_wahini]

12. Chris Rock leaned back and missed the full impact.

[Calista241]

45. Was he expected to just stand there and take it?

He has eyes, and he saw it coming. While he may have lessened the impact by 'leaning back', he still took it to the face.

[live love laugh]

16. I was shocked. It was real tho. I've lost all respect for him.

[TlalocW]

18. I was skimming Twitter

And at first I thought he had hit THE Rock, and I was like, "OMG! Will Smith is dead!"

TlalocW

[exboyfil]

22. Will Smith is 6'2" and in pretty good shape

Maybe if he keeps his distance he could survive such an encounter.

Then again I have seen the Rock hitting weights so no.

[TlalocW]

30. I don't doubt that Smith is in good shape

But along with the advantage in muscle being waaaay in the Rock's favor, for all of wrestling's scripted outcome, you still have to be tough enough to get knocked around.

TlalocW

[misanthrope]

39. Nah, the difference there is

I don't believe Smith would have attempted the same on someone that he didn't drastically outsize. Especially someone who could so plainly defend himself as a gargantuan former pro wrestler and college football player.

Smith went after Chris Rock because he's small.

[BlackSkimmer]

44. This. He's an insecure bully.

Personally, I don’t think he was offended for his wife. His masculinity was threatened by Rock referring to his wife without hair.

[misanthrope]

46. More likely his masculinity was threatened by his wife's open discussion of her other lovers

This could have been building in him for a while.

[C Moon]

19. After seeing the live uncut footage, I think it was real...

https://www.tmz.com/videos/2022-03-28-032722-will-smith-chris-rock-1-1384492/

[exboyfil]

20. Nice message to send to the kids

If any kids are watching the Oscars. Settle your dispute with your hands.

Either WWE or they allowed a man who had just committed a public battery collect an award and go about his day. Either way a bad look for the Oscars, Will Smith, Chris Rock, and the joke writer.

If the two are friends than this is common banter/actions when they are together, then please don't air it in a public forum for millions to see. A friend slapping another friend in private is a whole lot different than in front of millions of people. They have now made it the public's business.

[walkingman]

21. Must be a lot of sensitivity over Jada's alopecia...not a good move by Smith.

[exboyfil]

24. I understand his anger and being protective of his wife

He has a right to be sensitive and outraged. He doesn't have the right to commit a battery though.

[pbmus]

23. Chris is an opportunist and Will was laughing until he turned to his wife..

Who was not laughing and then Will decided to ratchet up the stakes….sad for the world when so many other more important events are happening…

Slava Ukraine….

[Renew Deal]

25. Here's the unedited video. That was legit.

Rocks cheek swelled up.

[FakeNoose]

26. Maybe Will Smith has an emotional reason that we don't know about

I mean, maybe his wife is really going bald, and Will was upset over Chris Rock's joking about it. I don't know, maybe she's on chemo or something, and it hasn't been released to the media. There could be another reason.

Or maybe he was just all wound up because he was waiting to hear if he had won.

If they were punking, it was kind of stupid and pointless.

[Stinky The Clown]

29. Celebrity lives afrde not high on my "follow" list, but I heard she has alopecia or similar.

I am not sure. Just reporting that I read that.

[ymetca]

27. I'm still just interested in seeing

Sean Penn melt his Oscar

[LetMyPeopleVote]

31. No police report filed

Link to tweet

[UTUSN]

33. Well, Chris stood gracefully!

[UTUSN]

32. Look: Joke bad. Reaction bad. Might be "live" tv

[Kablooie]

34. Look at the photos. Smith's hand is open and flat.

It was a slap.
There is a hit sound but it's from the microphone being jostled.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

35. I'm glad that Chris Rock doesn't have eye problems...

... like me, because even that slap might've caused a detached retina in my only remaining eye with sight.

I'm relieved it wasn't worse.

[misanthrope]

40. In that case, Chris Rock would have a hefty payday in civil court

Smith wouldn't have stood a chance of winning in court.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

36. LAPD Statement

Link to tweet

[DET]

37. We Get It

Don’t mean to be rude, but you’ve posted this like 20 times already.

[standingtall]

38. If Will Smith didn't start shouting profanities after it

I could've believed it was staged.

[GoneOffShore]

41. Someone said elsewhere: This Fresh Prince reboot is MUCH better than I thought it would be.

[HAB911]

42. I too believe it was an act, tasteless, but an act

[Emile]

43. It was a slap!