Chris Rock gives regretful verdict on infamous Will Smith Oscars slap

EntertainmentMovie
9 Sep 2026 • 4:05 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Chris Rock gives regretful verdict on infamous Will Smith Oscars slap

  • Comedian Chris Rock has addressed the infamous 2022 Oscars slap incident during an interview with Variety, succinctly stating that he wishes "nothing would have happened" on the night Will Smith struck him on stage.
  • Rock swiftly shifted the focus of the interview to his upcoming directorial project Misty Green, explaining that he did not wish to draw attention away from the film or lead actor Rosalind Eleazar.
  • Addressing his future with the Academy Awards, Rock revealed he has no intention of returning to the Oscars unless he is nominated for an award in the future.
  • The 2022 altercation was triggered when Rock made a joke regarding Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head, prompting Will Smith to walk on stage, slap the comedian, and yell expletives from his seat.
  • Following the incident, Smith was awarded Best Actor for King Richard but was subsequently banned from all Academy events for 10 years, leading the Oscars to implement new crisis response protocols.

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