{"id":91688,"date":"2022-04-02T15:50:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-02T10:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/centralrecorder.com\/will-smith-slaps-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-a-timeline-of-all-the-drama\/"},"modified":"2022-04-02T15:51:07","modified_gmt":"2022-04-02T10:21:07","slug":"will-smith-slaps-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-a-timeline-of-all-the-drama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/centralrecorder.com\/will-smith-slaps-chris-rock-at-the-oscars-a-timeline-of-all-the-drama\/","title":{"rendered":"Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at the Oscars: A timeline of all the drama"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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It\u2019s been days since Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, and still it\u2019s the only showbiz story people are talking about.<\/p>\n

This moment, which is the worst and most vile in Oscars history, will continue to be a topic of discussion for many years. It feels like an era-defining moment, for all the wrong reasons. <\/p>\n

Celebrity culture is a world where there was life before Will Smith slapped, and there will be life after that. Its impact will continue to ripple. <\/p>\n

In case anyone missed it, we should briefly recap what happened. <\/p>\n

Sign up<\/a> to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rock was presenting the award for Best Documentary when Smith stepped onto the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and proceeded to hit Rock, following a joke he\u2019d made about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith.<\/p>\n

\u201cWill Smith just smacked the s*** out of me,\u201d Rock said at the time, before Smith shouted: \u201cKeep my wife’s name, out of your f***ing mouth.”<\/p>\n

Since then, it\u2019s the only thing people have been talking about, and there have been plenty of revelations to emerge since then. <\/p>\n

This is a timeline of all the events surrounding the biggest slap in showbiz history.<\/p>\n

Sunday evening \u2013 Smith slaps Rock <\/h3>\n

The incident itself came after Rock began by making a G.I. Jane<\/em> joke at the expense of Smith’s wife Jada Pinkett-Smith while onstage to present the Best Documentary award.<\/p>\n

Smith was presumably upset given the reason for his wife’s short-hair; she’s battled with alopecia for years.<\/p>\n

“Jada, can’t wait for G.I. Jane 2<\/em>,\u201d Rock said, making a reference to her shaven head.<\/p>\n

The actress previously spoke about her decision to shave her head after being diagnosed with the condition, including during a 2018 episode of her Facebook Watch series, Red Table Talk<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was terrifying when it first started\u2026 I was in the shower one day and had just handfuls of hair in my hands and I was just like, \u2018Oh, my God, am I going bald?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Smith, despite appearing to laugh at the joke initially, walked on stage and slapped Rock, leaving him stunned \u2013 with the footage later showing just how dazed Rock was left by the incident.<\/p>\n

Later that evening \u2013 Smith wins Best Actor for his performance in King Richard <\/h3>\n

A short time later, Smith was able to walk onto the stage again, this time to collect the Best Actor award for his performance in King Richard<\/em>, having been consoled by Denzel Washington, Tyler Perry and Bradley Cooper<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Smith offered an apology to the Academy, but not to Rock, and also appeared to make light of the incident with a joke about \u2018art imitating life\u2019 and \u2018looking like the crazy father\u2019.<\/p>\n

The speech read: \u201cDenzel [Washington] said to me a few minutes ago, \u2018At your highest moment, be careful, that\u2019s when the devil comes for you.\u2019 I want to be a vessel for love. I want to say thank you to Venus and Serena \u2026 and the entire Williams family for entrusting me with your story.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s 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\u2019m not crying for winning an award. It\u2019s not about winning an award for me; it\u2019s about being able to shine a light on all the people \u2026 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

During the ceremony \u2013 Smith asked to leave but refuses<\/h3>\n

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences has since said that Smith was asked to leave Sunday’s Oscars<\/a> but refused.<\/p>\n

Many wondered why Smith was allowed in the front row of the Academy Awards following the incident. The Academy suggested Wednesday that the Academy attempted to remove Smith from the audience.<\/p>\n

\u201cThings unfolded in a way we could not have anticipated,\u201d According to the Academy, \u201cWhile we would like to clarify that Mr. Smith was asked to leave the ceremony and refused, we also recognize we could have handled the situation differently.\u201d<\/p>\n

Monday morning \u2013 Smith apologises in lengthy social media post<\/h3>\n

Smith later publicly apologised to Rock, writing in a statement on Monday that his behaviour was \u201cunacceptable and inexcusable\u201d.<\/p>\n

Smith wrote: “Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behaviour at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusable. Jokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.<\/p>\n

“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of control and I was wrong. I’m embarrassed. My actions do not reflect the man that I want to become. Violence is not permitted in a world that values love and kindness.<\/p>\n

“I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams Family and my King Richard Family. I deeply regret that my behaviour has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us.<\/p>\n

“I am still learning.”<\/p>\n

Monday \u2013 Smith\u2019s mum says she\u2019s \u2018surprised\u2019 by slap<\/h3>\n

Smith\u2019s mum has said she was \u201csurprised\u201d upon seeing her son slap Rock in a statement released the next day.<\/p>\n

Smith\u2019s mother, Caroline Bright, told Philadelphia news station Action News: \u201cHe is a very even, people person,\u201d adding that she was \u201csurprised\u201d by his actions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the first time I\u2019ve ever seen him go off. First time in his lifetime,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen him do that.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added that she was \u201cproud\u201d of Smith following his Best Actor win on the night.<\/p>\n

Monday \u2013 Jada Pinkett Smith breaks silence<\/h3>\n

Pinkett Smith has shared her first social media post since the incident on Instagram. <\/p>\n

The post didn\u2019t give much away and simply stated the following words against a pale pink background: \u201cThis is a season for healing and I\u2019m here for it\u201d.<\/p>\n

Monday \u2013 Richard Williams criticises the slap <\/h3>\n

\"\"Richard Williams hit out at Smith<\/small>Jim McIsaac\/Getty Images<\/small><\/p>\n

The real-life tennis coach portrayed in King Richard<\/em> by Will Smith, Richard Williams, distanced himself from the film star’s on-stage antics with a statement on Monday evening.<\/p>\n

In a statement to NBC News<\/em> via his son and spokesperson Chavoita LeSane, Williams said: \u201cWe don\u2019t know all the details of what happened. But we don\u2019t condone anyone hitting anyone else unless it\u2019s in self-defence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tuesday – False claims spreading online are called out<\/h3>\n

There\u2019s been a whole lot of disinformation spread in the aftermath of the incident, including a fabricated letter of apology attributed to Rock.<\/p>\n

The biggest false claim said that Rock issued a public apology for his joke about Jada Pinkett Smith\u2019s shaved head, saying he \u201ccrossed a line that I shouldn\u2019t have and paid the enormous price of my reputation as a renown comedian.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was one of the claims refuted on Tuesday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wednesday – \u2018Outraged\u2019 Academy promises \u2018appropriate action\u2019<\/h3>\n

The Academy promised \u201cappropriate action\u201d against Will Smith in a letter obtained by Variety, <\/em>after the fallout from Sunday\u2019s ceremony.<\/p>\n

Academy leadership has said they were \u201cupset and outraged\u201d that Smith\u2019s actions overshadowed what was meant to be a \u201ccelebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Signed by president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson, the letter read: \u201cTo be clear, we condemn Mr Smith\u2019s actions that transpired Sunday night.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs outlined in our bylaws, the Academy\u2019s Board of Governors will now make a determination on appropriate action for Mr Smith,\u201d they wrote in the letter sent to Academy members, adding, \u201cThis must follow an official process that will take a few weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wednesday evening \u2013 Chris Rock breaks silence<\/h3>\n
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Not surprised @chrisrock is getting a standing ovation at his first outing after Oscar assault and battery. Calm is indeed an amazing power. #ActRight pic.twitter.com\/2ZJEWakeb4<\/p>\n

\u2014 SEGA L’u00e9veilleuru00ae (@SEGA L’u00e9veilleuru00ae)
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Rock spoke about the incident for the first time<\/a> in his opening comments to the audience at his show in Boston\u2019s Wilbur Theatre, beginning by saying: \u201cSo\u2026 how was your weekend?\u201d<\/p>\n

After the crowd greeted him with a standing ovation, Rock, continued: \u201cLet me be all misty and s***\u201d, with tears in his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t have a bunch of s*** to say about that, so if you came here for that…\u201d Rock added, saying: \u201cI had written a whole show before this weekend.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m still processing what happened, so at some point I\u2019ll talk about that s***,\u201d the comedian also said on Wednesday, adding, \u201cIt\u2019ll be serious. It\u2019ll be funny, but right now I\u2019m going to tell some jokes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Friday – Will Smith resigns from the Oscars Academy<\/h3>\n

Smith stepped away from the organisation for his \u201cshocking, painful, and inexcusable” actions, saying he felt “heartbroken” and had \u201cbetrayed the trust of the Academy\u201d.<\/p>\n

The Academy confirmed it had received the actor’s resignation and would push forward with disciplinary proceedings against him, the details of which are to be discussed at a board meeting on April 18. Smith said he would accept any consequences that emerged from his scheduled disciplinary hearing.<\/p>\n

On Friday, Smith apologised again to his fellow nominees and winners for having \u201cdeprived\u201d them of the opportunity to celebrate their achievements on the night.<\/p>\n

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