Real or staged? Oscars 2022 official sets record straight on Will Smith slap
Will Smith slapping Chris Rock across the face at the 2022 Oscars was not a planned stunt, an official confirmed Sunday night.
“Someone who works for the Oscars told me that Chris Rock was not interrupted by Will Smith at rehearsals yesterday,” Variety executive editor Ramin Setoodeh tweeted from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
“It was not supposed to happen. It was real. #Oscars,” he added.
Reps for the Oscars did not immediately return Page Six’s request for comment.
Smith, 53, stunned and confused the world when he walked on stage and struck Rock, 57, in the face after the comedian joked about Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head — resulting from her struggle with alopecia.
The “King Richard” star was initially seen laughing at Rock’s “G.I. Jane” comparison until he looked over at his wife, 50, who seemed less than thrilled.
“Keep my wife’s name out of your f–king mouth,” the Best Actor winner shouted twice at the shocked presenter after returning to his seat.
During the first commercial break after the confrontation, Denzel Washington, Bradley Cooper and Tyler Perry were spotted comforting Smith.
Washington, 67, and Perry, 52, appeared to encourage the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” alum to “brush it off,” as Hollywood Reporter columnist Scott Feinberg tweeted alongside a video of them. Smith also looked to be wiping away tears.
Later in the evening, Smith accepted his award for “King Richard” and confirmed that Washington had told him, “At your highest moment, be careful — that’s when the devil comes for you.”
“I want to apologize to all of my fellow nominees. This is a beautiful moment, and I’m not crying for winning an award,” Smith said, notably not apologizing to Rock directly, through tears during his speech.
While the two may not have settled things on stage, Sean “Diddy” Combs confirmed exclusively to Page Six at the Vanity Fair afterparty that Rock and Smith had worked things out.
“That’s not a problem. That’s over. I can confirm that,” Diddy, 52, told us.
“It’s all love,” he added. “They’re brothers.”
