It was the slap heard 'round the world: last night at the 2022 Oscars, Best Actor nominee (and eventual winner) Will Smith slapped presenter Chris Rock across the face after Rock made a tasteless joke about Smith's wife Jada Pinkett-Smith. Rock mocked her for being bald, despite the fact that Pinkett-Smith has spoken openly about having the hair loss condition alopecia. After taking his seat back in the front row, Smith yelled, “Keep my wife's name out your fucking mouth” twice, stunning the audience and sending Twitter into a tailspin.
Now, Entertainment Weekly reports that according to the LAPD, Rock is declining to file charges against Smith. “LAPD investigative entities are aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards program,” reads an LAPD statement obtained by EW. “The incident involved one individual slapping another. The individual involved has declined to file a police report. If the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report.”
In his acceptance speech for the Oscar for Best Actor, Smith apologized to the Academy for the incident. “I want to apologize to the Academy; I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees...But love will make you do crazy things...I hope the Academy invites me back. Thank you.”
The altercation didn't seem to bother Smith too much, as he was spotted afterwards at the Vanity Fair after party dancing to his song “Gettin' Jiggy With It” while holding his Oscar.
Smith's son Jaden took to Twitter after the awards to support his Dad, though whether it's for the slap or the Oscar win (or both!) is unclear. “And That's How We Do It,” Jaden wrote.
