Will Smith won his first-ever Academy Award on Sunday night, picking up the best actor statuette for his role in King Richard.
But he grabbed the headlines for an entirely different reason after he slapped host Chris Rock for making a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
The slap left the celebrity audience stunned, and had people on social media questioning whether it was staged – but it appears to be genuine.
Smith referenced the incident during his tearful acceptance speech for best actor.
What did Will Smith say in his acceptance speech?
Here is Will Smith’s acceptance speech in full:
Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family. At this time in my life, at this moment, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world. Making this film, I got to protect Aunjanue Ellis, who is one of the strongest, most delicate people I’ve ever met. I got to protect Saniyya [Sidney] and Demi [Singleton], the two actresses that play Venus and Serena. I’m being called on in my life to love people. And to protect people and to be a river to my people.
I know, to do what we do, you gotta be able to take abuse. You gotta be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business, you gotta be able to have people disrespecting you, and you gotta smile and pretend like that’s OK.
Denzel [Washington] said to me a few minutes ago, ‘At your highest moment, be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you. I want to be a vessel for love. I want to say thank you to Venus and Serena … and the entire Williams family for entrusting me with your story.
That’s what I want to do. I want to be an ambassador of that kind of love and care and concern. I want to apologize to the Academy, I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees. This is a beautiful moment and I’m not crying for winning an award. It’s not about winning an award for me; it’s about being able to shine a light on all the people … and the entire cast and crew of King Richard and Venus and Serena and the entire Williams family. Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams! But, love will make you do crazy things.
To my mother, a lot of this moment is really complicated for me, but to my mother – she didn’t want to come out, she has her knitting friends, she has a knitting crew she’s watching with – being able to love and care for my mother and my family and my wife. I’m taking up too much time – thank you for this honor. Thank you for this moment. I thank you on behalf of Richard and Oracene and the entire Williams family. Thank you. I’m hoping the Academy invites me back. Thank you.
Why did Will Smith slap Chris Rock?
Rock was entertaining the crowd on-stage ahead of the best documentary award being handed out.
Smith and Pinkett Smith were sat at the front of the audience, and Rock made a joke asking Pinkett Smith if she would star in “GI Jane 2”.
The joke references the fact Pinkett Smith has shaved her head – as Demi Moore did for her role in the original GI Jane.
However, Pinkett Smith has also been very public about having alopecia, a medical condition that causes hair loss.
Smith initially seems to be laughing, but then strides up to the stage and slaps Rock in the face.
After being struck, Rock exclaims: “Oh wow. Will Smith just smacked the shit out of me.”
Some members of the celebrity crowd are still laughing, perhaps thinking the whole incident is a bit.
But the reaction turns to stunned silence when Smith shouts at Rock twice: “Keep my wife’s name out of your f***ing mouth.”
Rock says that he will, but appears visibly shaken, going on to say “we are here to present a documentary” before correcting himself.
