By Vikram Wagh
Prelude……………………………………………………………………………….. 2
Personal Reflection on the Film………………………………………………. 3
Introduction…………………………………………………………………………. 3
The Oscars Incident………………………………………………………………. 4
Subsequent Developments………………………………………………….. 11
Public and Industry Reactions………………………………………………. 13
Bollywood Award Ceremonies Comparison……………………………. 16
Award Controversies in Bollywood………………………………………… 18
Return to the Main Topic………………………………………………………. 19
On the Provocation and Justification……………………………………… 20
Other Perspectives on the Incident………………………………………… 21
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………… 21
Final Thoughts on the Incident………………………………………………. 23
The very cause of this subject
Oscars’ Fairness Denied
Prelude
On March 27th, 2022, at the Academy Awards, which honoured the best movies of the previous year, the most humiliating, violent, embarrassing, shocking, and emotional incident in Hollywood occurred involving the man who won Best Actor.
King Richard (19 November 2021), directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and written by Zach Baylin, stars Will Smith as Richard Williams, the father and coach of famed renowned tennis players Venus and Serena Williams (both of whom also served as executive producers on the film). The film also stars Aunjanue Ellis, Saniyya Sidney, Demi Singleton, Tony Goldwyn, and Jon Bernthal.
Despite the film’s positive reviews—stemming from the performances of Smith, Ellis, and Sidney, as well as its screenplay—it ultimately was a box office failure. However, this was sufficient to secure nominations for its lead actor at awards such as the African-American Film Critics Association Awards (in which most of his co-stars also won), the Black Reel Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and the Golden Globe Awards, although, sadly, he did end up receiving a Razzie.
It was a pleasant moment when Smith’s Best Actor nomination also extended to the Oscars, where he attended with his wife, Jada-Pinkett Smith.
The event was hosted by actor and comedian Chris Rock, who had previously worked with Jada.
Personal Reflection on the Film
I saw the film a year after its release in January 2022 (shortly before all hell broke loose at the 2022 Oscars), and it evoked memories of related events in my life.
Seventeen years before I first saw the film, in 2005, I recall Serena playing against Maria Sharapova, marking the first time I had heard of Serena Williams, who triumphed over Sharapova during the match.
To this day, I do not know why I wrote about the match despite not being a sportsperson (in fact, when I reflect on that time, I always humbly ask myself, ‘What have I done!’).
I did not hear or encounter anything about Williams again until seventeen years later, after I saw the film about her, her father, and her sister (only a year after its release, though).
Introduction
This entire case has resonated in Hollywood since its inception, and I believe it is unfair in its failure to recognise when a guilty party is, in fact, innocent, and vice versa—a coincidence perhaps underscored by the film’s failure at the box office.
Nevertheless, I wish to address the case itself, asserting that, in some way, unfairness has been done to an actor I admire.
Yet, in a nod to the notion of the innocent being guilty and the guilty being innocent, in this instance, both parties were at fault.
The Oscars Incident
While Will Smith had been announced as one of the nominees for Best Actor, actor and comedian Chris Rock, who had previously worked with Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett, was chosen as one of the ceremony’s presenters.
Rock announced the nominees for Best Documentary Feature at the 94th Academy Awards, delivering a brief monologue largely read from a teleprompter.
Rock joked about the husband-and-wife pair, Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz—both previous Oscar winners—with comparable nominations at that ceremony, remarking that if Javier lost, evidently, Penélope could not win.
Smith and his wife were seated together near the front of the audience. Rock then made a comment about Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, which was due to alopecia.
He compared it to Demi Moore’s dramatic look in the 1997 film G.I. Jane, suggesting she should appear in a sequel by quipping, ‘Jada, I love you; G.I. Jane 2—can’t wait to see it, alright?’
Much of the audience, including Smith, laughed, while Pinkett Smith rolled her eyes in annoyance. Presumably in response to his wife’s expression, Smith walked onto the stage as Rock prepared to continue his speech.
As he approached, Rock, still smirking, referred to him as Richard—in reference to the movie for which Smith had been nominated for Best Actor—but an enraged Smith silently strode onto the stage, slapped Rock on the left cheek, and then returned to his seat.
The attack, which some assumed was prearranged comedy, startled the audience. Many noted that this act contradicted and jeopardised the calm, positive public image that Smith had built over his three-decade career.
The previously calm Rock also appeared startled and exclaimed, ‘Oh-ho-ho, wow! Wow! Will Smith just smacked the shit out of me,’ while the audience continued to laugh—still under the impression that the entire event was staged. Meanwhile, a visibly upset and angry Smith shouted at Rock from his seat, ‘Keep my wife’s name out [of] your fucking mouth!’ eliciting both laughter and gasps.
‘Wow, dude!’ Rock said, attempting to calm him. Smith then aggressively yelled to affirm that he meant business, and when Rock reiterated that he had attempted a joke in reference to G.I. Jane, Smith repeated his profane warning. Rock then stated that he would stop but added that it seemed to be the ‘greatest night in the history of television,’ which further escalated the audience’s laughter.
However, this exchange led the local audience and journalists to realise that Smith’s reaction was genuine.
Actor Kevin Costner, who waited offstage to present the Academy Award for Best Director, remarked, “Oh, that was real.” Until Smith’s acceptance speech, the reportedly stunned and confused audience anticipated some official acknowledgement from the stage, with some individuals in the mezzanine peering over the balcony in search of further action. However, the show did not utilise hosts from that point on and continued as normal.
Smith’s outbursts of profanity directed at Rock were censored via audio muting during the live broadcast in many countries. Photojournalist Brian Snyder, working for Reuters in the photographer pool in the projection booth, captured the moment Smith struck Rock.
The photo quickly went viral, featured in news stories, and became a popular internet meme. Snyder was unaware of the photo’s cultural impact until after the ceremony, as his photos are automatically sent to his editors.
He was subsequently profiled by several media outlets, including the photography outlet PetaPixel.
One outlet even described him as “The One Winner In The Will Smith vs. Chris Rock ‘Smackdown’,” speculating that Snyder might receive the prestigious World Press Photo of the Year award, given the widespread publication of his image. While the American broadcaster ABC muted the expletives of both Rock and Smith due to federal censorship laws, many international broadcasters did not, and uncensored recordings of the event quickly went viral on social media.
An uncensored clip from the Australian broadcast on the Seven Network was shared by The Guardian on YouTube, receiving over 50 million views within 24 hours and reaching number one on YouTube’s trending page in several countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Immediately following the incident, Rock continued with the presentation for Best Documentary Feature, an award given to the crew of Summer of Soul.
Smith remained present in the ceremony and subsequent celebrations, and many attendees were surprised by the lack of immediate action. Several actors, including Bradley Cooper, Denzel Washington (whom Smith is close to), and Tyler Perry (who is friends with both Smith and Rock), offered him comfort. Later, Smith received the award for Best Actor for his role as Richard Williams in King Richard. During his emotional speech, he focused on themes of divine purpose and protection, apologising to the Academy, his fellow nominees, and Venus and Serena Williams, though he did not directly address Rock let alone apologize to him. Smith’s speech received a standing ovation.
(Sir) Anthony Hopkins, who had ironically worked with Rock in the 2002 box office flop Bad Company, then took the stage to present Best Actress, briefly commenting on the situation by saying, “Will Smith said it all. What more can be said? Let’s have peace, love, and quiet,” before awarding Jessica Chastain the Oscar for Best Actress in The Eyes of Tammy Faye. The Academy later stated that Smith had been asked to leave, but he declined; however, some attendees denied that he was ever formally asked to exit.
Backstage, disagreement arose among Academy leadership and ceremony producer Will Packer over whether Smith should be allowed to stay, ultimately resulting in no action.
Reports indicated that Packer played a key role in allowing Smith to remain, believing that Rock would not support his removal from the event.
After the ceremony, award winners were advised to address only questions about their work. LAPD officers met with Packer, who stated that they were prepared to arrest Smith on battery charges, although Rock repeatedly declined to press charges.
One of the first consequences for Smith was Netflix cancelling a planned sequel to his 2017 film Bright, in response to the negative publicity surrounding the incident. Following public backlash, Smith issued a formal apology on Instagram and Facebook the following day.
He described his behaviour as “unacceptable” and “inexcusable,” directly addressing Rock: “I would like to publicly apologise to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed, and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”
Three days after the incident, Rock briefly mentioned the subject for the first time during a comedy show, stating that he was still processing it but promised to discuss it in the future. He noted that Smith had not contacted him personally and that they had not spoken since the ceremony. Claims on social media that Rock had apologised were later debunked by fact-checkers.
On July 29, Smith posted a YouTube video in which he addressed the incident and apologised to Rock, Rock’s mother, Rock’s brother Tony, Questlove, the other Oscar winners, and his wife Jada, expressing that he was “deeply remorseful” for his actions.
Subsequent Developments
In June 2020, two years before the incident, it was announced that Smith would star in Emancipation, directed by Antoine Fuqua, based on the true story of a runaway slave who joins the Union Army. Apple Studios acquired the rights to the film for an estimated $120 million, outbidding several other studios.
However, by May 2022, the film’s release was postponed to 2023 due to production issues, the controversy surrounding the altercation between Smith and Chris Rock, and a crowded release schedule from Apple Studios.
The film was ultimately released in select theatres on 2 December 2022, before becoming available on Apple TV+ on 9 December 2022.
It received mixed reviews from critics and earned approximately $3,000 to $4,000 per location during its limited theatrical run.
Smith appeared as a guest on the 29 November 2022 episode of The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, marking his first public interview since the incident.
During the conversation about his upcoming film Emancipation, Trevor Noah asked Smith to reflect on his experiences since that night.
Smith described it as a horrific event, acknowledging the complexities involved, and admitted, “I just lost it. You just never know what someone’s going through.”
In March 2023, a year after the incident, Chris Rock addressed the incident for the first time in his Netflix stand-up comedy special, *Selective Outrage*, where he made several jokes about it but continued to insult Smith—a move that did not sit well with numerous people, even those who maintained that Smith had still done wrong. In October 2023, Jada Pinkett Smith released her memoir, *Worthy*, in which she revealed that she and her husband had been separated since 2016. She expressed that sharing this truth felt like a “weight off my shoulders.”
Regarding the Oscars incident, she noted that such an intense experience can sometimes bring people closer together.
Public and Industry Reactions
An opinion poll conducted the day after the ceremony revealed that 61% of Americans deemed Smith’s actions unacceptable, while 22% found them acceptable. The Federal Communications Commission received 66 complaints regarding the incident.
SAG-AFTRA, the labour union representing film and television actors, released a statement condemning Smith’s behaviour.
They stated that violence or physical abuse in the workplace is never acceptable and labelled the incident involving Will Smith and Chris Rock at the Academy Awards as unacceptable.
The union has been in contact with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and ABC regarding the matter and aims to ensure that appropriate actions are taken. SAG-AFTRA does not comment on any ongoing member disciplinary processes.
Reactions from celebrities who attended the Academy Awards varied. In general, there was strong condemnation of Smith’s violence and support for Rock, though some defended Smith’s actions (albeit while still disagreeing with his choice of violence) or decided not to take any sides.
Personal Reflections on Celebrities’ Responses and Favourite Films
What I find comforting is that many celebrities I admire (even if just for one film), including Bradley Cooper, Tyler Perry, Jon Voight (who worked with Smith in the 2001 Muhammad Ali biopic Ali although Voight shockingly admitted he would also have hit Rock if he were in Smith’s place), and Denzel Washington, sympathised with Smith (though they still believed his actions were wrong, believing he could have instead spoken to Rock about his feelings after the ceremony. Washington in fact said a few days after the incident on an interview that condemnation was not a positive action and would only question the worth of a person condemning, making them lesser than they are).
Following the altercation, Smith recalled that Washington, a devout Christian, advised him not to be at his highest moment, as such moments can be exploited by the devil to put a person in jeopardy. He also revealed that Washington as well as Perry prayed with him to offer comfort.
Pitifully, even some of my favourite stars criticised Smith negatively—actors and actresses from whom I would not have expected such criticism, especially given that they may not have considered that Rock initiated the provocation, even though Smith exacerbated the situation. These included Judd Apatow (who is the husband of actress Leslie Mann, the leading lady of the Tarzan parody George of the Jungle, which was released in the same year as the first Men In Black film starring Will Smith), Kevin Costner, and, surprisingly, even Star Wars actor Mark Hamill.
Among my favourite Will Smith films are Bad Boys, in which he co-starred with Martin Lawrence as police officers, and the Men In Black films, in which he co-starred with Tommy Lee Jones as two agents belonging to an organisation known as the Men In Black (or MIB for short), devoted to monitoring extraterrestrial activity on Earth (although the recent instalments did not feature him or Jones).
A pity, from my viewpoint (though I recognise that none of us has any say in another person’s life), is that Lawrence, who is friends with both Smith and Rock, stated that Rock did not deserve what happened to him—even if Smith was not in the right frame of mind—and revealed that he had attempted to touch base with both after the incident to check on their wellbeing.
Bollywood Award Ceremonies Comparison
Bollywood award ceremonies are known for their glamour, entertainment, and a dash of humour often provided by celebrity hosts. Many famous actors serve as hosts, using their wit to engage the audience and keep the event lively. It is not uncommon for hosts to poke fun at the audience or fellow actors, though these jabs are usually taken in stride.
Interestingly, despite the occasional controversies and rivalries within the industry, Bollywood award shows—even when familiar with such disputes—have never witnessed any violent incidents.
Actor and producer Shah Rukh Khan, often referred to as the ‘King of Bollywood’—a title also associated with classic legends such as Amitabh Bachchan and Anil Kapoor—has been a frequent host at such events. Known for his sharp sense of humour, Khan does not shy away from teasing both his contemporaries and his own family and friends in the industry, even those with whom he has had public disagreements.
There have been instances where he humorously insulted an award recipient during the ceremony, leading to verbal repartee on stage.
Nevertheless, these moments are typically perceived as light-hearted banter rather than serious confrontations or as causing genuine hurt feelings, and no one has ever openly asked him to stop or accused him of crossing the line. This speaks to the culture of playful camaraderie that often characterises Bollywood events, and Khan himself has noted that his jokes are sometimes misinterpreted.
Award Controversies in Bollywood
One of the most notable award controversies occurred in 2009 at the Star Screen Awards, when filmmaker Ashutosh Gowariker’s epic period historical drama musical *Jodha Akbar* swept all Best Picture Awards, including at the Filmfare Awards (which I consider the ‘Academy Awards of Bollywood’).
At the Star Screen Awards that night, however, hosts Farah Khan and her brother Sajid—both of whom are also filmmakers—made numerous jokes at the expense of many stars, and a few winners were interrupted by the hosts while attempting to make their acceptance speeches.
One joke, in particular, was directed at newcomer Harman Baweja, which irked Gowariker; when he went to receive the award for *Jodha Akbar* as Best Picture, he said,
“I don’t like the way the film industry is made fun of at such award nights. I feel it diminishes the award itself. I don’t believe the demeanour of the award night has been up to standard. No offence, Sajid and Farah—personal remarks can be made by me as well. Fun can be had even by me…”
“You should go ahead then, Ashu,” Sajid interjected, indicating that he was fine with Ashutosh using that kind of humour as well. However, Gowariker declined, stating, “There’s a difference” and asked him not to interrupt him even though this was a TV show. “I don’t like how you ask an award winner to remain silent while your show hogs the spotlight, and I’m deeply hurt and upset by that. Everyone works hard for their success, and you can’t make fun of a star on this podium!” Gowariker screamed
Return to the Main Topic
Returning to the main topic, it is surprising that when Smith won the Oscar that night, he still chose to keep it.
It reminded me of a time in my life when a special day at my house was spoiled (although I will not delve into that event in detail), and I wished that, instead of trying to stop the cause of it, I had simply gone to bed. Fortunately, in retrospect, the memory is not as painful, and I now know that if something like that were to happen again, I would simply go to bed. That said, these days when I think of that event, I laugh, knowing I was a different person back then.
If I had done to Rock what Smith did, I would not have accepted the Oscar. It is fortunate that the other awards Smith received for the film did not involve such public humiliation by hosts, and he did indeed receive those accolades well.
On the Provocation and Justification
In considering what led up to the altercation, one must note the comparison between the joke Rock made about Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz, and the comment about Smith and his wife.
I personally do not feel that Rock said anything vulgar about the couple winning or losing when he remarked, ‘If he (Javier) loses, she (Penélope) can’t win!’
I believe in keeping celebrity (and non-celebrity) couples together, and if only one member of a couple wins an award at an awards night, it can be humorously emotional without necessarily being insulting.
It remains unknown whether Rock was aware that Jada had alopecia. However, immediately after his remark, ‘Jada, I love ya, G.I. Jane 2—can’t wait to see it, alright’, his subsequent comment, ‘That was a nice one now,’ suggested a cheekily violent side, indicating that he may have been planning that unkind act.
Other Perspectives on the Incident
Many others have described Rock as a rude person; for instance, English writer and presenter Richard Madley described Rock as the ‘rudest celebrity he’s ever spoken to’. He reiterated, much like myself and a few others, that while what Will did was wrong, Rock was also “an unpleasant piece of work”.
Conclusion
Many times, I was tempted to get involved and advise Smith to tell both the Academy and his fans—and those close to him—that while he is sorry for his actions, he is also hurt by what Rock had done.
Had he indicated that he was out of line and sent viral messages to Rock apologising for assaulting him in that manner (even though Rock never responded and instead continued to verbally thrash him during tours and performances, which I still believe demonstrates Rock’s ruthlessness), still, Rock’s family, as well as Smith’s own family, received apologies from Smith, and the incident increased awareness of alopecia.
I have even considered writing to the Academy to express that they were being unfair to Smith, arguing that if he were to be suspended, so too should Rock be.
However, that would have been too challenging; as a simple, ordinary person (notwithstanding my being on the Autism spectrum), I believe that what is happening to both actors is indeed very unfair.
I have no more part or say in this matter than any movie fan.
Justice and injustice are both at play here in a complex manner, especially considering that Smith is now banned for 10 years. One person even remarked, ‘Let’s ban the Oscars!’ in response to this.
Final Thoughts on the Incident
I acknowledge that even though Smith did wrong, I am still supporting him in the wake of his uncalled-for actions, even though I am not a fan of the film for which he received the Oscar. Nevertheless, it does not matter that I am not a fan, as many others share that sentiment; still, the Academy only reprimanded him and not Rock, who had provoked him in the first place (Rock should have also been held accountable). Smith has been asked recently if he was going to appeal the ban but just said he was focusing on becoming a better person.
In my opinion, this entire scenario in suspending Smith is worse than a miscarriage of justice, and only time will tell what further outcomes this Hollywood controversy will produce, but even if this puts me at risk for spreading it out there, it is something I feel all of us should know. Justice has to be fair reasonably and this is exactly that.